- Preliminary ruling of “yes” on 24 June look has been formally challenged.
- Debate centres on lack of tie, trainers, and ritual of apparel.
- Background consists of 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 swimsuit by the top of June—has advanced right into a $79 million conundrum over what counts as a swimsuit.
The wager, initially meant 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 pictures 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 plenty of on the decentralized betting platform Polymarket interpreted the outfit as a swimsuit.
Polymarket had opened the market on 22 Might, posing the query: “Will Zelenskyy wear a suit before July?”
The unique phrases specified the outfit needed to qualify as a swimsuit in “a commonly accepted” sense.
Following the looks, the platform initially dominated “yes,” triggering a partial payout.
However this determination was quickly contested by some merchants who argued that Zelenskyy’s look lacked formal footwear, a tie, or enough distinction between formalwear and informal apparel.
This marks the second such dispute on Polymarket involving Zelenskyy’s garments.
In Might, the same market had additionally closed amid controversy after Zelenskyy wore an identical jacket and trousers with out a tie, prompting some to argue the outfit technically met the swimsuit standards.
Style author Derek Man had weighed in then, suggesting the gadgets had been minimize from the identical fabric, satisfying the definition of a swimsuit regardless of the dearth of typical styling.
Historic context, conflict symbolism, and political pressure
The importance of Zelenskyy’s wardrobe decisions extends past betting mechanics.
Because the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Zelenskyy has persistently worn military-style clothes to signify solidarity with Ukrainian troopers.
He has publicly said that he’ll return to carrying fits solely when the conflict 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 conflict but additionally for his refusal to seem in formal apparel in the course of the assembly.
The remark led to worldwide headlines and additional politicised Zelenskyy’s clothes choices.
Consequence delayed as appeals course of continues
At current, Polymarket has paused any ultimate settlements associated to the Zelenskyy swimsuit market.
Two formal challenges have been filed in opposition to the ruling that thought of his 24 June outfit a swimsuit.
These appeals have locked up the funds, stopping merchants from accessing their winnings or losses till a ultimate decision is reached.
Polymarket operates utilizing sensible contracts and third-party arbitration to resolve disputes, and the ultimate determination will likely be made primarily based on the proof submitted, together with images and interpretations of the platform’s guidelines.
Till then, tens of tens of millions 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 precious prediction markets ever run on Polymarket—surpassing even earlier political betting occasions.
Whether or not or not Zelenskyy’s NATO look qualifies as a swimsuit will now depend upon the arbitration panel’s interpretation, which might set a precedent for future fashion-related prediction markets on the platform.
