Episode Details

A Google engineer, Michele Spagnuolo, 36, faces federal charges after allegedly using confidential search data to rig crypto bets on Polymarket, netting over $1.2 million from a scheme that exploited a viral search spike tied to musician d4vd’s arrest. Over months, under the alias “AlphaRaccoon,” he placed 23 winning bets on trending topics, risking $2.7 million — all paid out when Google’s Year in Search results confirmed his predictions. The cash was laundered through crypto, ending up in an account linked to his Italian ID. After his winning streak drew suspicion, he changed his username. Google confirmed he’s on leave, calling the misuse of data a serious violation. He’s now charged with commodities fraud and money laundering, with the CFTC pursuing civil action to recover profits and bar him from trading. He appeared in court with a $2.25 million bond.

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