A United States Army special forces soldier has been charged with using classified intelligence linked to a covert military operation in Venezuela to profit from prediction-market bets tied to the removal of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
According to the US Department of Justice, the accused, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, allegedly made more than $400,000 through trades on a crypto-based prediction platform after accessing sensitive, non-public information about the operation.
Prosecutors said Van Dyke, an active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, participated in the planning and execution of the mission, known as “Operation Absolute Resolve,” which led to Maduro’s capture during a January 3 raid in Caracas.
Authorities allege that he created a prediction-market account in late December 2025 and placed multiple wagers forecasting Maduro’s removal before the information became public. In total, he is said to have staked over $33,000 across about 13 bets while still in possession of classified intelligence.
The Justice Department said the actions amount to unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, alongside charges including wire fraud, commodities fraud and illegal monetary transactions.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasised the seriousness of the allegations, stating that sensitive intelligence is entrusted to military personnel solely for operational purposes and national security, not personal enrichment.
US Attorney Jay Clayton also warned that prediction markets cannot serve as “a haven” for exploiting non-public government information.
Prosecutors further noted that Van Dyke had signed non-disclosure agreements prohibiting the disclosure or misuse of classified operational details.
In a parallel move, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a civil complaint, underscoring regulatory concerns over insider trading risks in emerging digital prediction markets.
The platform involved, Polymarket, confirmed it had flagged suspicious activity and cooperated with investigators, stating that insider trading “has no place” on its platform.
The case has drawn heightened attention in Washington, with officials warning that the rapid growth of prediction markets could expose new vulnerabilities in the handling of sensitive national security information.
US President Donald Trump said he was not immediately aware of the case but added that he was “not happy” about the development and would review the matter.
Van Dyke faces multiple federal charges and could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.
