According to a report by Jinshi, analysis firm BubblemapsSA has revealed that six accounts on the prediction platform Polymarket profited approximately $1 million by betting on a U.S. strike on Iran before February 28. According to PANews, these accounts were newly created in February and exclusively wagered on the timing of a potential U.S. attack. Some shares were purchased just hours before the first explosion in Tehran was reported, with some bought at around ten cents each.
This betting pattern has raised suspicions of insider trading. Blockchain analysts have noted similar patterns in other prediction market cases suspected of insider trading, such as a previous incident where an insider made significant profits by betting on the ousting of Venezuelan President Maduro in January.