A US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro sent shockwaves through global geopolitics — but for one prediction market trader, it delivered an extraordinary financial windfall. Just hours before the official announcement, a little-known trader placed a bold wager on Polymarket, betting that Maduro would be out of office. When confirmation came, the trade paid out more than $400,000, instantly raising eyebrows across financial markets, regulatory circles, and Washington. Was this simply sharp foresight and asymmetric risk — or did someone trade on information the world didn’t yet have?
