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Traders placed over $1bn in perfectly timed Iran-war bets

financeApr 18, 202667

Traders on prediction markets such as Polymarket placed more than $1 billion in bets tied to the US-Israel war in Iran, and a single Polymarket account named magamyman earned $553,000 by betting that Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would be "removed" minutes before an Israeli airstrike killed him. Those suspicious wagers paid out more than $1 billion overall and prompted lawmakers and reporters to demand trading records and explanations from market operators. Investigators have opened probes and regulators are examining enforcement and rulemaking options for prediction markets and exchanges involved in the trades.

Key Highlights

Traders placed over $1 billion in Iran-war wagers across prediction markets.
Polymarket account magamyman earned $553,000 betting Khamenei would be removed.
Lawmakers and regulators have opened probes into potential insider trading.
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