Investigation reveals Polymarket paid creators filmed fake deals in covert social media campaign

by
Alyssa Davidson

Posted: Jun 22, 2026 9:24 AM Updated: Jun 22, 2026 9:24 AM

by Anastasia Oh

Edit and fact check date: June 22, 2026, 9:24 AM

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Polymarket, a cryptocurrency prediction market founded in New York, organized a massive influencer campaign in which social media creators were paid to film themselves making simulated trades on a replica website designed to mimic a real-world platform, a Wall Street Journal investigation found. The scheme, which has garnered more than 140 million views across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, involved dozens of creators, mostly college-aged, who were told to hide their financial ties to the company.

An analysis of more than 1,100 videos posted by 10 TikTok creators identified by Polymarket’s marketing partners found that 778 videos in which creators appeared to be betting were all using counterfeit versions of the platform. Polymarket built nearly identical copies of the websites, including one registered under the domain “poiymarket”, and instructed its creators to record transactions in these dummy environments. The fake site was removed after the Journal contacted the company for comment.

Among the creators identified was George Makihara, a college student whose video shows him winning $100,000 in a bet in January that President Trump would say the word “McDonald’s.” Public data from the Polymarket real platform shows that more than 50 real accounts placed the same bet during the period and all lost. Makihara, who declined to comment, appears to have placed 145 bets totaling $410,000 on his videos between January and mid-May. Nothing was real.

Producers reported being paid $2,000 to $3,000 per month, and Polymarket reviewed footage before publication and requested retakes if the video wasn’t compelling enough or showed obvious signs of manipulation. In at least 128 of the 149 videos that cited news reports to imply betting outcomes, the Journal found that the supporting media was presented in the wrong context, including altered articles. At least 69 bets depicted as wins on the actual platform would have been losses.

A coordinated infrastructure for virus distribution

In addition to the producers, Polymarket hired a marketing contractor called Virality to manage the second tier of the campaign. That is, a network of “clippers” that pay creators to republish and amplify their content across platforms. As of early June, Virality only offered compensation to the Clippers if at least 60% of its audience was based in the U.S., according to internal training materials reviewed by the Journal. This is a notable detail considering Polymarket has been banned from offering major cryptocurrency-based exchanges to U.S. customers following a 2022 settlement with regulators.

Virality instructed Clipper to ensure posts looked “personal and organic” and suppressed any obvious associations with the brand. In a message in a group chat containing nearly 20,000 exchanges, Virality staff told participants to remove the words “Polymarket” or “poly” from their account names to avoid violating campaign guidelines. Virality declined to comment.

Creators were further instructed not to disclose that they were being paid, and 10 core creators did not initially identify themselves as Polymarket partners in their bios. They began adding the “@polymarket partner” designation only after the Journal began making inquiries. Razeen Khan, a California college student who worked as a creator until March, acknowledged the nature of the agreement but defended it, comparing the video to a fast food commercial. “We are depicting what actually happens,” he said.

Regulatory Investigations and Competitive Background

This campaign carries potential legal exposure on several fronts. Federal advertising law requires paid advertisers to disclose their relationships with brands. The commodity laws that regulate prediction markets prohibit deceptive and manipulative practices. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which governs prediction markets, has previously taken enforcement action against companies that use simulated trading in their marketing materials. A CFTC spokesperson responded to the Journal’s reporting by citing the importance of placing foreign prediction markets under more effective regulatory oversight.

The FTC, which enforces advertising standards, declined to comment on the Journal’s findings, citing its policy not to discuss potential investigations. A TikTok representative said many of the reported accounts have already been restricted for policy violations. YouTube and Meta released statements saying creators must disclose paid promotional relationships.

Polymarket said in a statement that it was “committed to maintaining an accurate, fair and transparent marketplace” and announced plans to conduct a comprehensive audit of active promotional content.

The marketing push coincides with increased competition from US-regulated rival Kalshi, which has recently led the way in trading volume. Kalshi recorded about twice the trading volume of Polymarket last month, according to data provider The Block. Polymarket is simultaneously trying to overturn a 2022 agreement that would have excluded its cryptocurrency platform from the U.S. market, according to people familiar with the matter. This is a regulatory campaign unfolding against a political backdrop in which President Trump has publicly called for exclusive federal oversight of prediction markets.

As a dedicated journalist at MPost, Alisa specializes in the broad areas of cryptocurrency, AI, investing, and Web3. With a keen eye for new trends and technologies, she provides comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers about the ever-evolving digital financial landscape.

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