The Art of the StealA project of the Save America Movement
Donate

★ Private Action

1789 Capital invests in Polymarket, places partner Trump Jr. on board

Corporate FavorsCrypto DeregulationTrump Family Business Dealings

Filed August 2025

★ The Brief

What happened

On August 26, 2025, Polymarket announced a strategic investment from 1789 Capital, the firm where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner, and added him to its advisory board, weeks after the prediction-market platform bought a CFTC-licensed exchange to re-enter the U.S.

Who enabled it

Who benefits

Deal or steal?

Weeks before Trump Jr. took the board seat, both the DOJ and the CFTC closed their Polymarket investigations without charges, clearing the platform's path back into the U.S. just as the president's son joined the company that benefited.

On August 26, 2025, Polymarket announced that 1789 Capital — a Palm Beach-based investment firm co-founded by Omeed Malik and Chris Buskirk — made a strategic investment in the company. Financial terms were not disclosed. As part of the arrangement, Donald Trump Jr., a partner at 1789 Capital, was formally welcomed to Polymarket's advisory board. The announcement came shortly after Polymarket completed a $112 million acquisition of QCEX, a CFTC-licensed exchange and clearinghouse, enabling the company's planned re-entry into the U.S. market. Polymarket reported approximately $6 billion in user predictions in the first half of 2025.

Actors

Who pushed it · 1

Who initiated, paid, or pushed the action.

  • 1789 Capital
    1789 Capital

    Made an undisclosed strategic investment in Polymarket and facilitated Donald Trump Jr.'s placement on Polymarket's advisory board.

Beneficiaries

Who gained · 2

Who stood to gain.

  • Donald Trump Jr.
    Donald Trump Jr.

    Joined Polymarket's advisory board as a partner of 1789 Capital, lending his name and political brand to the company as it seeks re-entry into the U.S. market.

  • Polymarket
    Polymarket

    Received an undisclosed strategic investment from 1789 Capital and added Donald Trump Jr. to its advisory board, as the company works to expand its U.S. footprint.

Sources

Further reading