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Dec 2025: Burdensome-Mix account created
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2 Jan 2026: Account puts $32,000 on Maduro being ousted
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3 Jan 2026: Maduro is seized and Burdensome-Mix wins $436,000
The recent growth of online predictions markets has also drawn scrutiny from observers.
Blockchain-powered platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi offer users the chance to speculate on anything from the weather to baseball to US foreign policy.
President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, is an investor in Polymarket and sits on its advisory board. He also acts as a strategic advisor to Kalshi and has been contacted by the BBC for comment.
In December 2025, one user created an account on Polymarket called Burdensome-Mix. On 30 December, it placed its first bet on Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro being out of office by the end of January 2026.
Between 30 December and 2 January Burdensome-Mix placed a total of $32,500 on the position.
When Maduro was seized by US special forces and ousted the following day, Burdensome-Mix won $436,000.
Shortly afterwards, the account changed its username and has not placed any bets since.
