Google engineer Polymarket insider trading charges have been filed by US authorities against a Google security engineer, Michele Spagnuolo, for allegedly using confidential company data to generate $1.2 million in profits on the cryptocurrency-based Polymarket prediction market. The 36-year-old Italian citizen, residing in Switzerland and a Google employee since 2014, appeared in the Southern District of New York on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, facing serious allegations.
This case underscores the escalating scrutiny on insider trading within the burgeoning decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, particularly when traditional corporate data is leveraged for illicit gains. In parallel with the criminal charges, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has also initiated a separate civil complaint, seeking restitution, disgorgement of illicit profits, civil monetary penalties, and comprehensive trading and registration bans against Spagnuolo.
Exploiting Confidential Google Data for Profit
According to the criminal complaint, the scheme began in October 2025. Spagnuolo allegedly accessed an internal Google software tool containing highly confidential “Year in Search” data – Google’s annual ranking of top trending search terms. This data, clearly marked with a “Google Confidential” banner, was reportedly used by Spagnuolo to place bets on Polymarket under the alias “AlphaRaccoon.”
The allegations detail Spagnuolo’s near-perfect accuracy across approximately 25 unlikely outcomes, risking a total of roughly $2.75 million. His bets were placed on whether specific individuals would appear on Google’s top trending search lists, leveraging his privileged access to internal, non-public information. This precise pattern of betting raised immediate red flags.
“Today’s charges reinforce a decades-old message: corporate insiders cannot use confidential business information to turn a profit in our markets,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “As alleged, Spagnuolo violated the duties he owed to his employer and used Google’s confidential business information to make more than $1.2 million in trading profits on Polymarket.”
Following Google’s public announcement of its Year in Search results on December 4, 2025, Spagnuolo’s AlphaRaccoon Polymarket account reportedly collected approximately $1.2 million in USDC.e winnings. The complaint further details the movement of these funds, noting that on or about December 10, 2025, the AlphaRaccoon account sent approximately 5.045 million USDC.e to another wallet.
Tracing the Digital Footprint: The Investigation
The FBI’s investigation successfully traced the AlphaRaccoon account to a payment processor account registered in Spagnuolo’s name, linked to an Italian government identification card. This crucial breakthrough allowed authorities to connect the anonymous online activity to a real-world identity. Interestingly, after online communities on platforms like Discord and X began speculating about AlphaRaccoon being a Google insider, the username was removed from the account, reverting it to an alphanumeric wallet address in an apparent attempt to obscure the trail.
Prosecutors also allege that Spagnuolo subsequently attempted to launder the illegal proceeds through multiple cryptocurrency-swapping services, including one specifically designed to remove wallet addresses from the blockchain, further complicating the tracing efforts. This highlights the growing sophistication of financial crime in the digital asset space and the challenges faced by law enforcement.
Legal Ramifications and Industry Impact
The charges against Spagnuolo are severe. He now faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on a commodities fraud count, and a staggering 20 years each on wire fraud and money laundering counts. This case serves as a stark warning to individuals contemplating the misuse of confidential corporate information, particularly in the rapidly evolving landscape of decentralized markets.
“Employees who are entrusted with confidential business information cannot misappropriate that information for personal financial gain,” added CFTC Director of Enforcement David I. Miller. The combined efforts of the Department of Justice and the CFTC send a clear message: the principles of fair markets and corporate integrity apply equally to traditional and decentralized financial ecosystems. This incident is likely to prompt a review of internal data access protocols across major tech companies and could influence regulatory discussions surrounding the intersection of corporate data, cryptocurrency, and insider trading. For more related Tech news, stay tuned to The Financial Standard.
