[Research: Polymarket 'Informed' Traders Earned $143 Million in Abnormal Profits Since 2024] Odaily Planet Daily News – Researchers from Columbia Law School and the University of Haifa analyzed the majority of Polymarket's trading data from 2024 to 2026 and discovered that over 210,000 suspicious trades generated $143 million in profits for 'informed' traders. This study, published this month, is the first to estimate the total profits of suspicious accounts. The researchers used five criteria related to trading timing and bet amounts to identify accounts that placed large bullish bets shortly before news releases. The study defines these activities as 'informed' trading rather than 'insider' trading, as some flagged large trades occurred in markets influenced by multiple factors, such as those related to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Among the 20 most suspicious flagged trades, the majority were tied to the 2024 election results, involving approximately $16 million in profits, while the rest were linked to Federal Reserve decisions and sporting events. Harry Crane, a statistics professor at Rutgers University, questioned the study's methodology, arguing that its suspiciousness rankings overly rely on profitability. The study's authors acknowledged the possibility of over- or under-inclusion in their methods and characterized the identified volume of suspicious trades as a 'conservative lower-bound estimate of abnormal profits.' Earlier this month, Polymarket announced a ban on trading using 'stolen confidential information' and 'illegal tips,' but its offshore exchange does not collect user identity information, such as names, leaving enforcement unclear.