Polymarket exposed for paying influencers at least $350,000 to promote its prediction market, with some content failing to disclose commercial partnerships

Odaily News, Matthew Modabber, Chief Marketing Officer of the prediction market platform Polymarket, has been exposed for paying content creators at least $350,000 through his personal PayPal account between January 2025 and February 2026 to promote Polymarket and its prediction market data.

Reports indicate that Modabber transferred over $2.5 million to more than 800 individuals over a 14-month period. Verified by Politico, at least 20 influencers who received payments subsequently posted around 490 pieces of content related to Polymarket on the social media platform X, with the majority failing to explicitly disclose the paid partnership.

Creators involved include conservative commentator Alex LoRusso, political commentator Brian Krassenstein, and Fox News contributor Riley Gaines. The related posts frequently described changes in Polymarket's odds as "BREAKING news" or bellwethers of events, aiming to reinforce the public perception of the platform's predictive accuracy.

A Polymarket spokesperson responded by stating that collaborating with content creators is part of the company's standard marketing strategy, designed to provide global users with "the most accurate, transparent, and data-driven market insights." However, the company did not address questions regarding the use of a personal account for payments or whether the related promotions complied with disclosure requirements.

Reports note that following Trump's election victory, interest in prediction markets surged, leading to rapid growth in Polymarket's trading volume. As the platform seeks to re-enter the U.S. market, it is expanding its brand influence through social media and opinion leaders, while also facing scrutiny over information disclosure, market influence, and regulatory compliance. (Politico)