The FBI has seized the phone and computer of Shayne Coplan, CEO of the betting platform Polymarket, known for accurately predicting Donald Trump’s election victory.
Sources told the New York Post that Coplan, 26, was targeted in a dawn raid at his Soho residence on Wednesday.
An insider criticized the operation, calling it “grand political theater at its worst,” and argued that authorities could have simply requested the items through Coplan’s lawyer instead of staging a dramatic raid for media attention and political motives.
Although Coplan was not arrested nor given a specific reason for the seizure, the raid is believed to be linked to Polymarket’s accurate election forecasts, which contradicted traditional polls.
The insider described the incident as “political retribution” by the outgoing administration, accusing them of targeting Polymarket for correctly predicting the 2024 presidential election outcome.
Polymarket had consistently signaled that Trump would win in the weeks leading up to the election.
After the results were announced, Coplan took to X, stating: “Make no mistake, Polymarket single-handedly called the election before anyone else. The global truth machine is here, powered by the people.”
In response, Polymarket emphasized its transparency, noting that it charges no fees, takes no trading positions, and provides open access to market data as a public service.
The platform and its CEO have been praised by figures like Elon Musk and statistician Nate Silver for successfully anticipating the November 5 U.S. election results.
