US Soldier Indicted for Alleged Insider Trading on Maduro’s Removal

A U.S. military personnel, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, has been formally charged with exploiting classified data to wager on the ousting of Venezuela’s former leader, Nicolas Maduro. The indictment, released on Thursday, alleges that Van Dyke, an active-duty Army soldier based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, used sensitive information about an upcoming operation to secure substantial profits on a cryptocurrency-backed platform known as Polymarket.

Operation Absolute Resolve and the Raid

The operation, named Operation Absolute Resolve, culminated in a high-profile nighttime raid on Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, in Caracas on January 3. They were taken to New York to face accusations of weapon and drug offenses, which they have denied. Van Dyke, who was involved in the planning and execution of the mission, is said to have placed bets on the event’s timing and outcome before the details were made public.

Allegations of Misuse of Classified Information

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Van Dyke allegedly initiated trades on Polymarket on December 26, 2025, using nonpublic intelligence about the operation. These trades reportedly generated over $409,000 in earnings. The DOJ emphasized that such actions “clearly constitute insider trading and violate federal law,” highlighting the breach of nondisclosure agreements he signed as part of his military service.

Polymarket’s Role and Statement

Polymarket, which facilitates prediction markets via blockchain technology, stated that it flagged Van Dyke’s activity and collaborated with the DOJ. “Insider trading has no place on Polymarket. Today’s arrest proves the system works,” the company declared in a social media post. The DOJ further noted that Van Dyke’s access to classified data was critical to his alleged profit-driven bets.

Legal Charges and Federal Prosecutors’ Remarks

Van Dyke faces multiple counts, including unauthorized use of confidential government information, theft of nonpublic data, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and an unlawful financial transaction. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche stressed that soldiers are entrusted with sensitive data to ensure mission success and are barred from leveraging it for personal gain. “Federal laws fully apply to prediction markets,” he added, underscoring the significance of the case.

CFTC’s Involvement and Presidential Comments

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) also filed a complaint against Van Dyke, accusing him of engaging in insider trading. During an unrelated event, U.S. President Donald Trump was asked about the allegations. “I was never much in favour of it,” he replied, expressing dissatisfaction with the practice. “The whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino,” Trump noted, referring to the rise of betting markets globally.