Hsinchu Man Arrested for Betting on Elections with Cryptocurrency
The Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office announced the arrest of a man for using cryptocurrency to place bets on local election outcomes via the decentralized prediction platform Polymarket.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 17:45
- 🔍 Collected: April 16, 2026 at 18:02 (16 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 03:01 (56h 59m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Kuo Hsuan-wei, Hsinchu County, 16th) The Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office stated today that after receiving reports that the decentralized prediction platform "Polymarket" was allegedly opening local election betting pools and enticing the public to bet on election results using cryptocurrency, a special task force investigated and arrested a gambler surnamed Ho from Hsinchu for his involvement. The case is currently under investigation according to law.
The Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office issued a press release today stating that it recently received election intelligence from the Banqiao Branch of the New Taipei City Police Department. The decentralized prediction platform "Polymarket" planned to use "2026 Taiwan Local Elections: Winning Political Party" as a target, enticing the public to bet on the election results using cryptocurrency.
Prosecutors stated that Prosecutor Li Hsin-yu directed the Banqiao Branch of the New Taipei City Police Department to form a special task force for an in-depth investigation. Yesterday, they arrested a gambler surnamed Ho in Hsinchu, who was suspected of placing bets with cryptocurrency, gambling property over the internet targeting the outcomes of county magistrate and mayoral elections by political parties. The entire case is being investigated according to the law.
Prosecutors said that this platform uses Taiwan's election results as gambling targets and evades detection through cryptocurrency betting and offshore platform operations, causing significant harm to the fairness, justice, and democratic order of the elections.
Prosecutors pointed out that cryptocurrency has characteristics such as rapid cross-border circulation, high anonymity, and difficulty in tracing fund flows. In recent years, it has gradually become an illegal channel for offshore funds to intervene in elections, bribery, and election gambling pools. They urge the public not to take chances and participate in election gambling, so as not to violate the law and be punished. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150416
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(CNA Reporter Kuo Hsuan-wei, Hsinchu County, 16th) The Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office stated today that after receiving reports that the decentralized prediction platform "Polymarket" was allegedly opening local election betting pools and enticing the public to bet on election results using cryptocurrency, a special task force investigated and arrested a gambler surnamed Ho from Hsinchu for his involvement. The case is currently under investigation according to law.
The Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office issued a press release today stating that it recently received election intelligence from the Banqiao Branch of the New Taipei City Police Department. The decentralized prediction platform "Polymarket" planned to use "2026 Taiwan Local Elections: Winning Political Party" as a target, enticing the public to bet on the election results using cryptocurrency.
Prosecutors stated that Prosecutor Li Hsin-yu directed the Banqiao Branch of the New Taipei City Police Department to form a special task force for an in-depth investigation. Yesterday, they arrested a gambler surnamed Ho in Hsinchu, who was suspected of placing bets with cryptocurrency, gambling property over the internet targeting the outcomes of county magistrate and mayoral elections by political parties. The entire case is being investigated according to the law.
Prosecutors said that this platform uses Taiwan's election results as gambling targets and evades detection through cryptocurrency betting and offshore platform operations, causing significant harm to the fairness, justice, and democratic order of the elections.
Prosecutors pointed out that cryptocurrency has characteristics such as rapid cross-border circulation, high anonymity, and difficulty in tracing fund flows. In recent years, it has gradually become an illegal channel for offshore funds to intervene in elections, bribery, and election gambling pools. They urge the public not to take chances and participate in election gambling, so as not to violate the law and be punished. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150416
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The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.