A Columbia study found that up to 60% of Polymarket’s volume may stem from wash trading, raising new concerns about artificial activity in prediction markets. The rapid growth of the prediction market Polymarket may not be entirely organic but instead inflated by artificial trading activity, according to research published by Columbia University. In an 80-page paper titled “Network-Based Detection of Wash-Trading,” which has not yet undergone peer review, Columbia researchers identified extensive wash-trading activity on Polymarket beginning in July 2024. That month, they found that wash trades accounted for nearly 60% of the platform’s total trading volume. “This activity persisted through late April 2025 before subsiding substantially, and once again increased to about 20 percent of volume in early October 2025,” they wrote. Read more
A Columbia study found that up to 60% of Polymarket’s volume may stem from wash trading, raising new concerns about artificial activity in prediction markets. The rapid growth of the prediction market Polymarket may not be entirely organic but instead inflated by artificial trading activity, according to research published by Columbia University. In an 80-page paper titled “Network-Based Detection of Wash-Trading,” which has not yet undergone peer review, Columbia researchers identified extensive wash-trading activity on Polymarket beginning in July 2024. That month, they found that wash trades accounted for nearly 60% of the platform’s total trading volume. “This activity persisted through late April 2025 before subsiding substantially, and once again increased to about 20 percent of volume in early October 2025,” they wrote. Read more
Bitcoin bulls have held the price above the critical $100,000 support level, but a shallow bounce increases the risk of a breakdown. Will altcoins gain ground while BTC searches for direction? Key points: Bitcoin has remained above the $100,000 level on a closing basis, but the risk of a breakdown remains until the price rises above $108,000. Several major altcoins are holding onto their support levels, but a weak bounce heightens the risk of a breakdown. Read more
Bitcoin bulls have held the price above the critical $100,000 support level, but a shallow bounce increases the risk of a breakdown. Will altcoins gain ground while BTC searches for direction? Key points: Bitcoin has remained above the $100,000 level on a closing basis, but the risk of a breakdown remains until the price rises above $108,000. Several major altcoins are holding onto their support levels, but a weak bounce heightens the risk of a breakdown. Read more