A U.S. Army soldier has been charged with insider trading on Polymarket. Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly used classified information from a raid aimed at capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
As of early Tuesday, reports indicate that Van Dyke profited over $409,000 through his betting activities. He created a Polymarket account on December 26, 2025, and placed around 13 bets related to military actions in Venezuela.
According to the Justice Department, Van Dyke faces charges for unlawful use of confidential government information and commodities fraud. He reportedly sent his winnings to a foreign cryptocurrency vault before moving them into a new online brokerage account.
Polymarket stated they referred the matter to the Department of Justice and fully cooperated with their investigation. This incident raises questions about the integrity of betting markets and insider knowledge.
Donald Trump weighed in, comparing Van Dyke’s actions to Pete Rose betting on his own team. “The whole world unfortunately has become somewhat of a casino,” he remarked.
Kash Patel commented on the case, stating, “This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna called for Van Dyke’s pardon, arguing it would be unjust for him to face punishment alone in this situation.
The implications of this case could extend beyond Van Dyke himself. As more details emerge, it remains uncertain how this will affect future regulations concerning betting markets and military operations.