Less than a day after staking over $30,000 on Venezuela President Maduro’s exit on a new Polymarket account, a trader reportedly earned $400,000 as US authorities moved against the South American leader.
His winnings have already drawn the attention of the online community and even Congress. Some lawmakers have shared their frustrations about insider trading.
According to sources, Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) plans to introduce a bill that would restrict insider trading. The bill would prohibit federal lawmakers, political appointees, and executive branch staff from trading in prediction markets if they possess, or could reasonably be expected to obtain, material non-public information related to those contracts.
The Polymarket trader started placing bets on New Year’s Eve.
The Polymarket trader began wagering on Maduro’s removal on December 31, 2025, placing multiple bets that the leader would be ousted by the end of January, starting with a $1,238.34 bet on New Year’s Eve.
Earlier, speaking about the trader’s activity, left-wing political researcher Tyson Brody had even questioned whether this was some war-related insider trading. Later, sports and business commentator Joe Pompliano reshared Brody’s post, pointing out that the account reportedly earned $400,000 betting on Maduro’s removal. He even noted that prediction markets are now encouraging insider trading.
Soon after, several X users jokingly speculated that the insider might be Barron Trump, the president’s son, while others focused on the $400,000 cash-out and additional big winners.
Saturday’s focus on Polymarket comes on the back of mounting calls by US officials to rein in the platform and other prediction markets. Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, had previously warned that sports-related prediction markets are growing too quickly, posing legal, economic, and ethical challenges while threatening state control and the integrity of sports. The former governor argued that prediction markets are operating unlawfully in the US, evading the safeguards designed for state-controlled sports betting.
According to Jake Sherman, founder of Punchbowl News, Representative Torres intends to introduce legislation titled the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026. The restriction targets prediction market trades linked to public policy, government actions, or political results when conducted on platforms engaged in interstate commerce. Ideally, it would limit US officials or those with access to confidential information from wagering on prediction markets.
Representative Torres also criticized the Trump administration for Maduro’s removal
Representative Torres had also condemned the Trump administration’s role in Maduro’s removal. He noted, “The US Constitution vests the power to declare war in Congress. No single individual has the authority to commit the nation to a war of regime change without congressional authorization. Power cannot replace principle. Nor can the ends justify the means.”
He further stressed that the rule of law should outweigh raw military power, warning that history shows regime-change wars frequently create more chaos than stability.
Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), however, praised the Trump administration’s actions, saying, “This bold and decisive action by the Trump Administration is a major victory for American security and justice.” He referred to the Venezuelan president as an illegitimate leader who has enabled violent gangs and drug cartels.
On the other hand, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani shared his criticism, “Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law. This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad; it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home.”
Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) also criticized the Trump administration for “kidnapping” Maduro without Congress’s approval or regard for the potential fallout from their illegal actions.
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Source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/congress-probes-bets-after-maduro-wagers/