US Soldier Arrested for Insider Betting on Maduro's Removal

A US special forces soldier involved in the military operation that captured Nicolas Maduro has been arrested after he allegedly bet on the removal of Venezuela's former leader before the information was publicly available. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Gannon Ken Van Dyke after he allegedly made trades on Polymarket, a crypto-powered platform, based on classified information. Justice department officials stated, 'That is clear insider trading and is illegal under federal law.' Van Dyke, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, reportedly won more than $409,000 from his bets.US forces seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their Caracas compound on January 3, 2026, to face serious allegations of weapon and drug offenses, which they deny. Van Dyke allegedly placed his bets on the timing and outcome of Operation Absolute Resolve, seeking to profit from his insider knowledge. According to the DOJ, he created a Polymarket account and began trading on Maduro and related markets on December 26, 2025, while possessing classified information about the operation.Polymarket acknowledged the situation, asserting they referred the case to the DOJ upon discovering insider trading activities. Van Dyke faces charges related to confidential government information, commodities fraud, and wire fraud among others. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that military personnel must not exploit classified information for personal gain.As the case continues, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has also filed a complaint against Van Dyke. President Donald Trump commented on the situation, expressing his disapproval of insider trading and the betting phenomenon, describing how the world has become a 'casino.'}