Preliminary ruling of “sure” on 24 June look has been formally challenged.
Debate centres on lack of tie, trainers, and ritual of apparel.
Background contains previous wager confusion and political strain from Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s apparel has unintentionally sparked a multimillion-dollar crypto betting frenzy.
A easy prediction on Polymarket—asking whether or not Zelenskyy would seem in a go well with by the top of June—has developed right into a $79 million conundrum over what counts as a go well with.
The wager, initially supposed as a light-hearted market, has escalated right into a contentious debate now entangled in rule interpretations, public appearances, and even political optics.
Polymarket ruling contested as photos from NATO go to go viral
The present spherical of confusion started on 24 June, when Zelenskyy attended a NATO gathering within the Netherlands.
He was photographed in a darkish jacket, shirt, matching trousers, and trainers.
The photographs circulated quickly, and lots of on the decentralized betting platform Polymarket interpreted the outfit as a go well with.
Polymarket had opened the market on 22 Could, posing the query: “Will Zelenskyy put on a go well with earlier than July?”
The unique phrases specified the outfit needed to qualify as a go well with in “a generally accepted” sense.
Following the looks, the platform initially dominated “sure,” triggering a partial payout.
However this resolution was quickly contested by some merchants who argued that Zelenskyy’s look lacked formal sneakers, a tie, or enough distinction between formalwear and informal apparel.
This marks the second such dispute on Polymarket involving Zelenskyy’s garments.
In Could, an analogous market had additionally closed amid controversy after Zelenskyy wore an identical jacket and trousers and not using a tie, prompting some to argue the outfit technically met the go well with standards.
Vogue author Derek Man had weighed in then, suggesting the gadgets had been reduce from the identical material, satisfying the definition of a go well with regardless of the dearth of typical styling.
Historic context, struggle symbolism, and political rigidity
The importance of Zelenskyy’s wardrobe decisions extends past betting mechanics.
For the reason that Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Zelenskyy has persistently worn military-style clothes to characterize solidarity with Ukrainian troopers.
He has publicly acknowledged that he’ll return to carrying fits solely when the struggle ends.
Nevertheless, the difficulty of his gown turned politically charged after a high-profile assembly in early 2025 with US President Donald Trump within the Oval Workplace.
Trump, in a pointed second, criticised Zelenskyy not just for his place on the struggle but additionally for his refusal to look in formal apparel in the course of the assembly.
The remark led to worldwide headlines and additional politicised Zelenskyy’s clothes choices.
End result delayed as appeals course of continues
At current, Polymarket has paused any remaining settlements associated to the Zelenskyy go well with market.
Two formal challenges have been filed towards the ruling that thought-about his 24 June outfit a go well with.
These appeals have locked up the funds, stopping merchants from accessing their winnings or losses till a remaining decision is reached.
Polymarket operates utilizing sensible contracts and third-party arbitration to resolve disputes, and the ultimate resolution can be made based mostly on the proof submitted, together with pictures and interpretations of the platform’s guidelines.
Till then, tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} stay in limbo.
Regardless of the market’s light-hearted look, the authorized and monetary implications are very actual.
With almost $79 million in whole quantity, the Zelenskyy outfit debate has develop into one of the crucial useful prediction markets ever run on Polymarket—surpassing even earlier political betting occasions.
Whether or not or not Zelenskyy’s NATO look qualifies as a go well with will now rely upon the arbitration panel’s interpretation, which may set a precedent for future fashion-related prediction markets on the platform.
