The FBI reportedly raided the Manhattan residence of Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan early Wednesday morning after the election betting platform appropriately predicted Donald Trump’s victory within the 2024 presidential race final week.
A spokesperson for Polymarket known as it “apparent political retribution by the outgoing administration towards Polymarket for offering a market that appropriately known as the 2024 presidential election.”
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The raid, as first reported by the New York Submit, concerned FBI brokers seizing Coplan’s cellphone and different digital gadgets whereas the 26-year-old CEO was at his SoHo condominium.
A couple of hours later, Coplan posted on X, writing a tongue-in-cheek, “new cellphone, who dis?”
Polymarket claims the platform operates as a clear, public prediction market that permits individuals to raised perceive occasions like elections.
The spokesperson emphasised of their assertion that “Polymarket is a totally clear prediction market that helps on a regular basis individuals higher perceive the occasions that matter most to them, together with elections. We cost no charges, take no buying and selling positions, and permit observers from all over the world to investigate all market knowledge as a public good.”
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The FBI’s reported motion towards Coplan comes only a week after Polymarket appropriately predicted Donald Trump’s presidential victory, with the platform exhibiting Trump holding a 58.6% probability of profitable on Election Day.
Coplan himself prompt that the investigation could be politically motivated.
“It’s discouraging that the present administration would search a last-ditch effort to go after firms they deem to be related to political opponents,” wrote Coplan on X.
“We’re deeply dedicated to being non-partisan, and in the present day isn’t any totally different, however the incumbents ought to do some self-reflecting and acknowledge that taking a extra pro-business, pro-startup strategy could also be what would have modified their destiny this election,” he added.
The platform has raised funds from high-profile traders together with Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, which invested round $70 million.
Within the wake of the latest election, a French bettor with the alias Théo reportedly earned an $85 million revenue by way of Trump bets on Polymarket, in accordance with reporting from the Wall Road Journal.
“I’ve nothing extra so as to add,” Théo wrote to The Wall Road Journal by way of e-mail. “To be frank, I’m a bit bored with the entire thing – I’d wish to fade again into my regular each day life.”
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The DOJ and Shayne Coplan didn’t instantly reply to FOX Enterprise’ request for remark.
The FBI declined to remark when reached by FOX Enterprise.