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

Odaily Planet Daily News: Prediction market platform Polymarket's Chief Marketing Officer, Matthew Modabber, was reportedly found to have paid content creators at least $350,000 via 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 approximately 490 pieces of content related to Polymarket on social media platform X, the majority of which did not clearly disclose a paid partnership.

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

A Polymarket spokesperson responded that collaborating with content creators is part of the company's standard marketing strategy, intended to provide global users with "the most accurate, transparent, and data-driven market insights." However, the company did not address questions regarding why personal accounts were used for payments or whether the related promotions met disclosure requirements.

The report notes that after Trump's victory, interest in prediction markets surged significantly, 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)