A recent study by Columbia University researchers Rajiv Sethi and Yash Kanoria has revealed that up to 25% of trading volume on Polymarket, a decentralized prediction market platform, may be artificially inflated through wash trading. The research suggests this tactic peaked at 60% in December 2024, potentially impacting the integrity of prediction markets and raising questions about their trustworthiness. While no official response has been issued by Polymarket itself or its founder Shayne Coplan, analysis of on-chain transaction data from two years of activity identifies suspicious wallet behavior indicative of wash trading. This suggests that certain Polymarket sectors, including elections and sports markets, may be more susceptible to this manipulative tactic. The findings highlight the potential for significant impact on market confidence and investment in decentralized prediction market protocols.