The U.S. CFTC launches a wide-ranging investigation into Polymarket, covering social media activities and fraudulent trading

According to Bloomberg, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is conducting a broad investigation into the prediction market platform Polymarket, covering its business activities including social media operations.

Previously, The Wall Street Journal reported that Polymarket hired dozens of social media creators, primarily of college age, to create fake trading videos to attract users. This investigation encompasses other aspects of the company's business. The CFTC and the Department of Justice concluded an investigation last year into whether Polymarket violated the ban on U.S. users, but some U.S. users still access its main platform by circumventing the ban through VPNs and other means.

Since reaching a settlement with the CFTC in 2022, Polymarket has technically prohibited U.S. users from using its main platform, but the company is taking steps to reintroduce its main exchange to the U.S. and is cooperating with the CFTC to lift the ban. Senators Adam Schiff and John Curtis sent a letter to the CFTC last Thursday, requesting confirmation of whether an investigation into Polymarket's advertising practices is ongoing and inquiring how the agency has prevented Polymarket from attracting U.S. users since the 2022 action.