Authorities arrest special forces soldier who allegedly made $400k on Polymarket bet involving Maduro operation

A U.S. special forces soldier has been indicted for allegedly profiting from insider information related to the operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The Department of Justice claims that Gannon Ken Van Dyke made significant bets on the prediction market Polymarket, wagering that Maduro would be ousted from power, which reportedly netted him over $400,000. According to federal authorities, Van Dyke was involved in the planning and execution of Operation Absolute Resolve, the mission responsible for Maduro's capture. He allegedly made multiple bets on Polymarket regarding the likelihood of U.S. military action against Venezuela to remove Maduro. Van Dyke's arrest, reported by CBS, follows accusations that his wagers were based on classified information he had access to as a military insider. The government states that Van Dyke had signed nondisclosure agreements which strictly prohibited him from revealing any sensitive information regarding military operations. His betting activities began in December when he created a Polymarket account to engage in “Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets.” Between December 27, 2025, and January 26, he reportedly placed 13 bets totaling approximately $33,034 on events like the deployment of U.S. forces in Venezuela by January 31, 2026, and Maduro's removal by the same date. After cashing in on his bets, Van Dyke allegedly attempted to obscure his connection to the account. He now faces multiple charges, including violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, wire fraud, and unlawful monetary transactions. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the trust placed in military personnel regarding classified information, stating, “Our men and women in uniform are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain.” The rise of prediction markets has sparked debate, particularly as they gain traction among public officials and media organizations. Current discussions in Congress are considering legislation that would prohibit officials from leveraging nonpublic information for betting on these platforms.