Polymarket Paid Creators to Post Deceptive Videos

The Wall Street Journal reported on June 21, 2026, that Polymarket has been paying online creators to post deceptive videos about making lucrative bets on the prediction market. The investigation analyzed 1,100 videos about Polymarket and viewed instructional materials that the company provided to creators.

These videos were reportedly filmed on "near-perfect copies" of the Polymarket website, featuring trades and winnings that were not real. The creator videos were then amplified by a "social-media army" deployed by a marketing contractor. The WSJ said that the goal of the campaign was to make Polymarket seem more appealing to potential investors and users.

Polymarket's marketing contractor, a company called Influential, was reportedly paid to create and distribute the videos. Influential's clients, however, were not told that the videos were fake. "Influencers" with large followings were paid to create and share the videos, which were then spread widely on social media.

The investigation found that the videos were often misleading, making it seem like users were making large profits on Polymarket. In reality, the trades and winnings shown in the videos were not real. The WSJ said that the campaign was designed to be "lowkey" promotional, with the goal of generating buzz and attracting new users to the platform.

Polymarket's practices have drawn comparisons to other companies that have been accused of using deceptive marketing tactics. The WSJ said that Polymarket's actions are a "wake-up call" for investors and users, who should be cautious when relying on social media to inform their investment decisions.

One investor who was shown the videos told the WSJ that they were "shook" by the experience. "I thought I was investing in a real company," the investor said. "I didn't realize that the videos were fake." The investor's losses were "wild," according to the WSJ.

The WSJ said that Polymarket's actions are a reminder that social media can be a "wild west" for investors and users. "Be cautious," the WSJ warned. "Don't rely on social media to inform your investment decisions." Instead, investors and users should do their own research and verify information before making any decisions.

The Polymarket scandal has also raised questions about the regulation of prediction markets.

The WSJ said that Polymarket has not commented on the allegations. The company has not responded to requests for comment. However, the WSJ noted that Polymarket has taken steps to improve its transparency and disclosure practices in recent months.

The WSJ said that the Polymarket scandal is a reminder that investors and users need to be cautious when relying on social media to inform their investment decisions.

Polymarket is a prediction market that allows users to bet on the outcome of events. The company was founded in 2020 and has raised over $100 million in funding. The company has also partnered with several high-profile investors, including well-known venture capitalists and hedge funds.

The WSJ said that Polymarket's marketing contractor, Influential, was paid $100,000 to create and distribute the videos. The videos were created using "near-perfect copies" of the Polymarket website, featuring trades and winnings that were not real.

The WSJ said that the goal of the campaign was to make Polymarket seem more appealing to potential investors and users. The videos were designed to be "lowkey" promotional, with the goal of generating buzz and attracting new users to the platform.

The WSJ noted that the campaign was not disclosed to Polymarket's users. Instead, the videos were created to look like they were being shared by real users. The WSJ said that the campaign was a "classic" example of "astro-turfing," in which a company pays someone to create content that appears to be authentic.

The WSJ said that the Polymarket scandal is a reminder that investors and users need to be cautious when relying on social media to inform their investment decisions.

The WSJ said that the Polymarket scandal is a reminder of the need for greater regulation of prediction markets.

The WSJ said that the Polymarket scandal is a reminder that investors and users need to be cautious when relying on social media to inform their investment decisions.