Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attire at the June 24 NATO meeting in the Netherlands has ignited a battle among bettors on crypto prediction platform Polymarket . Key Takeaways: Zelenskyy’s NATO outfit sparked a $79 million betting dispute on Polymarket over whether it counted as a suit. Opinions are split, with some saying his jacket and pants look formal. However, others argue that casual elements disqualify it. The market, which has attracted nearly $79 million in bets , wagered on whether he would don a suit before July. The market’s outcome initially settled on “yes,” but has since faced two disputes and is awaiting a final verdict. Debate Over Whether Zelenskyy’s NATO Outfit Qualifies as a Suit At the heart of the debate is whether Zelenskyy’s outfit, a dark jacket, collared shirt, and long pants, constitutes a formal suit. Supporters argue that the garments match in color and fabric, presenting a cohesive, suit-like appearance. Critics counter that the casual cut, military-style elements, and mismatched trainers disqualify it as a traditional suit. Polymarket Intel, a community-run account on X, classified Zelenskyy’s outfit as a suit, but other voices disagreed. President Zelenskyy in a suit last night pic.twitter.com/Uo3Rhuzkq1 — Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) June 25, 2025 When asked, ChatGPT labeled the ensemble a military-style field jacket rather than a suit. Prominent menswear commentator Derek Guy added fuel to the fire , quipping on June 26 that the outfit was “both a suit and not a suit.” This is not the first time Zelenskyy’s wardrobe has triggered a betting uproar on Polymarket. A similar dispute erupted in May over whether his outfit during a German meeting counted as a suit. That market ultimately ruled “no,” despite Derek Guy asserting the matching cloth made it technically a suit. zelenskyy wears a suit while visiting germany. this is, technically, a suit, as a suit is just a garment where the jacket and pants have been cut from the same cloth pic.twitter.com/CjLXTzMMaA — derek guy (@dieworkwear) May 29, 2025 The controversy highlights the subjective nature of Polymarket’s prediction markets, which rely on UMA Protocol’s blockchain-based oracles to verify outcomes. Critics say the system can be prone to manipulation or ambiguity. In March, a $7 million bet over a Ukraine mineral deal also sparked allegations of oracle issues, while a recent Truf.Network report warned the entire market risks collapse when data is unverifiable or manipulated. Adding context, Zelenskyy has previously said he will only wear a suit again when Ukraine’s war with Russia ends. Ukrainian outlet The Kyiv Independent reported his preference for military-style clothing as a symbol of ongoing resistance. Polymarket Nears Unicorn Status With $200M Raise As reported, Polymarket is close to securing a $200 million funding round led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, valuing the crypto-based prediction platform at $1 billion. Despite being banned in the U.S. and raided by the FBI last year , Polymarket’s user base and market activity have surged, with over 21,000 open markets and $700 million in active trading volume. The platform recently partnered with Elon Musk’s X to integrate prediction markets with Grok, X’s AI chatbot, boosting its visibility amid ongoing regulatory hurdles. Polymarket has seen explosive growth since the 2024 U.S. election, hitting a $2.5 billion trading peak in November, but it remains restricted in several countries and faces criticism over potential market manipulation. The post Zelenskyy’s NATO Outfit Spurs $79M Betting Dispute on Polymarket appeared first on Cryptonews .
