Crypto bettors are now placing bets on what the future holds for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, especially after a recent public disagreement with United States President Donald Trump. The situation unfolded yesterday when Zelenskyy left the White House after a meeting, and Trump quickly took to social media to voice his disapproval, suggesting Zelenskyy wasn’t appreciative enough.

The popular crypto betting platform Polymarket is reporting a surge of interest in Zelenskyy’s position. According to them, users are actively wagering on how much longer the Ukrainian president will remain in office. A significant sum, over $500,000, has already been placed by crypto enthusiasts who believe Zelenskyy will be out of office before July.

Polymarket points out that while Zelenskyy’s future appears uncertain, the platform currently estimates a 26% chance of him leaving his post prematurely. Yesterday’s White House visit, initially intended as crucial negotiations, took an unexpected turn when discussions in the Oval Office became heated. Ultimately, Zelenskyy departed abruptly, and Trump publicly indicated that any potential peace agreement was now off the table for the time being.

Zelenskyy’s heated meeting with Donald Trump

The Oval Office recently played host to a meeting between Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance, where the ongoing conflict with Russia and other agreements were on the agenda. However, the conversation quickly became sensitive, concluding in disagreement. Trump reportedly accused Zelenskyy of not being a cooperative ally and expressed his frustration that Zelenskyy didn’t demonstrate gratitude towards the United States.

Trump further elaborated that during the negotiations, it became clear to him that Zelenskyy still harbored animosity towards Putin, arguing that such deep-seated hatred would make reaching any kind of deal exceedingly difficult.

“You see the hatred he’s got for Putin, that’s very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate,” Trump stated. Sources indicate Trump felt Zelenskyy wasn’t properly acknowledging and appreciating the extensive support the United States has provided to Ukraine throughout the now three-year-long war.

Insiders present at the meeting reveal that Trump was aggressively pushing Zelenskyy to agree to a minerals deal with the United States. Reportedly, Trump asserted, “You don’t have the leverage right now.” And then laid out the stakes: “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll be on your own, and I don’t think that will end well for you.”

Trump also reportedly accused the Ukrainian president of taking dangerous risks by escalating the situation towards World War III, implying Zelenskyy was leveraging U.S. involvement in the ongoing conflict as a negotiating tactic.

Crypto bettors want Zelenskyy to be ‘thankful’

Currently, crypto bettors have wagered a staggering sum exceeding $21 million on whether the war between Ukraine and Russia will conclude within the first three months of Trump’s presidency. This aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to prioritize ending the conflict swiftly upon his return to the Oval Office.

Polymarket’s data indicates that the odds of this bet paying out currently stand at 23% following Friday’s contentious meeting. Meanwhile, platform users are expressing open frustration, with many urging Zelenskyy to demonstrate more gratitude towards the United States for its continued assistance. One user commented, “[Zelenskyy] should’ve thanked the American people, how hard can it be to show some gratitude?”

Polymarket has a history of hosting similar prediction markets. The platform previously offered bets on the likelihood of former President Joe Biden withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race. They also facilitated wagers on the 2024 US presidential election winner itself, correctly predicting Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris.

According to a former executive at Polygon Labs, “Prediction markets incentivize individuals to conduct in-depth research and perform rational analysis before placing their bets. This ultimately leads to a significantly higher level of accuracy compared to traditional polling methods, thanks to this built-in financial motivation.”

Adding to Ukraine’s challenges, the nation is now considering implementing a crypto tax of up to 10% to bolster its economy, especially as the promise of sustained U.S. aid becomes increasingly uncertain.

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Source: cryptopolitan.com