Rep. Torres: Anonymous Polymarket wager on Venezuela 'bears all the hallmarks of insider trading'

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 09, 2026 at 13:57  |  6:58  |  CNBC
Speakers
Ritchie Torres — U.S. Representative, D-N.Y.

Summary

Rep. Ritchie Torres discusses introducing legislation to ban insider trading by government officials in prediction markets after an anonymous Polymarket wager on Venezuela drew scrutiny. He says the trade bears hallmarks of insider trading and argues CFTC authority is unclear, so Congress should act. He also comments on Mayor Mamdani, NYC affordability, and housing policy, favoring expanded rental subsidies over rent caps. No specific public-market trading ideas were presented.

  • Rep. Ritchie Torres introduces legislation to ban insider trading by government officials in prediction markets.
  • An anonymous Polymarket wager on Maduro's fall yielded a large profit and drew insider-trading scrutiny.
  • Torres says CFTC oversight of prediction markets is a gray area requiring congressional action.
  • He supports prediction markets' information role but warns insider trading could corrupt markets and government.
  • Torres discusses NYC Mayor Mamdani, his own primary challenges, and affordability politics.
  • He prefers expanding rental subsidies for income-eligible tenants over rent caps.
  • He warns operating costs are making NYC multifamily housing, especially in the Bronx, distressed.
  • No public equities or other directly investable vehicles were named.
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