Argentina blocks access to Polymarket after early bets on February inflation

Argentine authorities have blocked access to the prediction market platform Polymarket nationwide, following a ruling by Buenos Aires Judge Susana Parada. The order, implemented by ENACOM through ISPs and app stores, affects both Android and iOS access. This decision stemmed from Polymarket’s accurate prediction of February inflation data prior to its publication by INDEC, raising concerns about potential insider activity due to unusual betting patterns. Complaints from local lottery and gambling associations, supported by investigations, determined that Polymarket functioned as an unauthorized online betting system, lacking age verification and accepting crypto assets and credit cards. While some view the ban as user protection, others criticize it as limiting access to prediction tools, making Argentina the second Latin American country, after Colombia, to fully ban the platform.

(Source：Crypto Briefing)