Polymarket Paid Creators to Post Deceptive Videos of Fake Bets, WSJ Investigation Finds

Polymarket, a crypto prediction market platform, paid online creators to film deceptive videos showing fake bets and winnings, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation published June 21, 2026. The WSJ analyzed more than 1,100 videos and found many were filmed on near-perfect copies of the Polymarket website, featuring trades and winnings that were not real.

The investigation identified 145 videos that appeared to show bets adding up to almost $410,000, but none of those bets were real. Creators were instructed to make simulated trades on cloned versions of the site, then celebrate fake wins on social media.

How the Deceptive Campaign Worked

Polymarket hired dozens of mostly college-age creators, providing them with instructional materials and near-perfect copies of its website. The company told creators not to specify that they had been paid, though some later added "Polymarket partner" to their bios after journalists began asking questions. A marketing contractor deployed a "social-media army" to amplify the videos.

• WSJ identified over 1,100 deceptive videos posted by creators paid by Polymarket.
• Creators used simulated trades on fake Polymarket websites to film fake wins.
• Total fake winnings shown in the videos exceeded $410,000.
• Creators were instructed not to disclose their paid relationship with Polymarket.
• A marketing contractor amplified the videos through coordinated social media activity.

Implications and Next Steps

Polymarket said it is "committed to maintaining accurate, fair, and transparent markets" and plans to conduct an audit of its promotional content. The practice raises questions about regulatory oversight of prediction markets and influencer marketing in the crypto industry. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has previously taken action against Polymarket for offering unregistered binary options.

The investigation could attract renewed scrutiny from regulators. Polymarket's audit and any subsequent changes to its marketing practices will be closely watched by industry observers and consumer advocates. One creator compared the deceptive videos to commercials that make fast food look more appealing, saying "We're depicting what actually happens."