Harris Won U.S. Presidential Debate Versus Trump, Polymarket Betting Suggests
Vice President Kamala Harris appears to have come out on top in her debate against former President Donald Trump, according to betting trends on Polymarket. However, cryptocurrency was not mentioned during the event. While Harris’ odds slightly improved throughout the debate, both candidates remain closely matched in the betting markets for the actual election.
This was the second presidential debate of the 2024 race, with Harris calling for a third debate between herself and Trump. Like the first debate, there was little focus on technology or finance beyond a section on the economy.
During the debate, Trump continued to push for the benefits of tariffs, claiming his administration had enforced “substantial tariffs.” Harris countered by highlighting that Trump left the Biden administration with one of the highest trade deficits in history.
Fact-checkers, including CNN’s Daniel Dale, noted that Trump made more inaccurate statements than Harris. One false claim involved Trump stating that migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were "eating the dogs," which was debunked by the Wall Street Journal. This comment even sparked the creation of new memecoins on the token launchpad Pump.fun, including "EATING DOGS AND CATS."
After the debate, singer Taylor Swift endorsed Harris, stating she supports the causes Harris fights for.
Busy Night on Polymarket:
Polymarket saw a lot of activity during the debate, which began with a surprising handshake between Harris and Trump, something not seen since Trump’s 2016 debate with Hillary Clinton. Bettors had put the chance of a handshake at 30%, with around $360,000 in play.
Despite the excitement, there was skepticism about whether crypto or bitcoin would be discussed, with bettors placing the chances at 26% for Trump and 14% for Harris.
One user, "trumpisreal," won over $10,000 in USDC by correctly predicting Trump would mention "Springfield" and "Cat," referencing Trump’s false claim about Haitian migrants in Ohio. Meanwhile, bettors on Harris' side earned money early when she mentioned "Project 2025" and "Artificial Intelligence."
Overall, bettors are highly confident Harris won the debate, with 98% expecting her to be named the winner in the Polymarket contract, and a 59% chance she will be the election favorite the following day. The debate winner will be confirmed if an Ipsos/538 poll shows Harris had a stronger performance.
As of now, nearly $860 million is being wagered on the 2024 presidential election.
#CPI_BTC_Watch #PowellAtJacksonHole #KamalaHarrisTax #TrumpCryptoSupport