A second arrest has been made in connection with Polymarket betting markets on Taiwan's upcoming local elections. The Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office on April 15 detained a 22-year-old male college student surnamed He in Taipei, accusing him of placing wagers on the decentralized prediction platform's "2026 Taiwanese Local Elections: Party Winner" contract.
Polymarket Election Markets Draw Legal Scrutiny
Taiwan's nine-in-one local elections are set for November 28, 2026, but Polymarket has already listed a market on which party will win the most seats. Following a tip from the Banqiao Police Precinct, a special task force traced cryptocurrency flows on the blockchain to identify He's residence on Roosevelt Road Section 5 in Taipei. He admitted to betting out of curiosity and was referred to prosecutors on charges of gambling and violations of Article 103-1 of the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act.
Under the law, using telecommunication devices or the internet to bet on election results carries a penalty of up to six months in prison, detention, or a fine of up to NT$100,000.
Blockchain's Open Ledger Leaves No Escape
Blockchain's transparent nature leaves a permanent trail — all transaction data is publicly visible. Authorities can trace on-chain activities back to real-world identities. This case serves as a warning: participating in election betting through any means, including decentralized platforms, is illegal and prosecutable.