$70M in 60 Seconds: How Insider Info Helped Someone 28x Their Money (data-and-politics.ghost.io)

Article summary

On April 9, 2025, someone made a trade that earned them over $70 million in under an hour by buying call options on the SPY exchange-traded fund, which tracks the S&P 500. The trade was placed just before a tweet by Donald Trump announcing a pause on tariffs, which caused the market to surge. The options, which cost 85 cents, became worth over $25 after the announcement. The trade's timing and precision have raised questions about whether the trader had access to insider information.

Main themes

• Insider trading
• Market manipulation
• Executive power
• Government accountability
• Financial regulation

What commenters say

• The SEC may not investigate the trade for insider trading due to potential executive pressure and the current administration's history of interfering with regulatory agencies.
• The trade's unusual timing and precision suggest that the trader may have had access to non-public information, potentially from the Trump administration.
• The ability of the executive branch to exert control over regulatory agencies and the judiciary undermines the system of checks and balances and enables potential wrongdoing to go unpunished.
• The idea that elections can be postponed or cancelled due to wartime or other emergencies is a concern, as it could be used as a pretext for authoritarianism.
• The Ukrainian government's decision to postpone elections during wartime is a reasonable measure to ensure the country's stability and security, and is supported by the majority of the population.
• The potential for market manipulation and insider trading is a significant concern, and regulatory agencies must be independent and empowered to investigate and prosecute such cases.
• The current administration's actions and policies have created an environment in which corruption and wrongdoing can thrive, and it is up to individuals and institutions to speak out and demand accountability.