Judge Stays CFTC’s Case Against US Soldier Over Prediction Market Bets

The criminal case against a US soldier alleged to have used nonpublic information to profit on prediction markets will move forward before a civil case filed by the CFTC.

Judge Stays CFTC’s Case Against US Soldier Over Prediction Market Bets

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Written by

Turner Wright

staff writer

Reviewed by

Robert Lakin

staff editor

Written by

Turner Wright

staff writer

Reviewed by

Robert Lakin

staff editor

Judge stays CFTC’s case against US soldier over prediction market bets

Latest News

Published

Aug 10, 2026

A New York judge granted a motion filed by US prosecutors in July to stay the CFTC’s civil case against Gannon Ken Van Dyke over making more than $400,000 on prediction markets.

A federal judge ordered that a civil case initiated by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) be stayed pending the outcome of a criminal case against a US soldier who is alleged to have used nonpublic information to profit from a Polymarket event contract on the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

In a Monday ruling in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, District Judge Andrew Carter granted a motion filed by prosecutors in July to stay the CFTC’s civil case “pending the outcome of the criminal proceeding.”

The cases against Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a US Army Special Forces Master Sergeant, involve allegations of making more than $400,000 on Polymarket event contracts tied to Maduro’s removal. According to the US Justice Department, Van Dyke was involved in the operation to oust Maduro in January, leading to allegations he used nonpublic information to profit on prediction markets.

The criminal and civil cases, both filed in April, could have significant implications for lawmakers and government officials using prediction markets. The US soldier has already

filed a motion to dismiss the criminal indictment

on different legal theories, including that the CFTC’s enforcement of event contracts as “swaps” on prediction markets was “ambiguous.”

Van Dyke pleaded not guilty to all charges and is potentially looking at a criminal trial beginning in late 2026 or early 2027.

Related:

Trump teleprompter operator made $100K betting on Kalshi markets tied to speeches: ABC

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