On 2 January 2026, an unidentified Polymarket user reportedly wagered about $30,000 that Nicolás Maduro would lose power by 31 January 2026, a bet that surged to more than $436,000 after a U.S. special forces raid led to his capture. By 2025, decentralized perpetuals and crypto prediction markets had evolved from niche tools into high-volume, consumer-facing infrastructure, with contracts on geopolitical events attracting over $10.5 million in open interest. The maturation of execution, liquidity design, distribution channels, and regulatory frameworks is now driving broader participation, particularly in emerging markets such as India.