Verifact Markets Launches Prediction Platform for Disputed Historical Facts

Verifact Markets, a startup incubated by Positron Capital Management, launched on Friday as a prediction market for disputed facts, allowing users to wager on past events. Initial markets include whether Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and whether State Farm intentionally delayed claims from the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. The beta market on Covid-19 origins remains open, with 'true' priced at 76 cents and 'false' at 32 cents. CEO Rodrigo Aquino says trading prices won't determine truth; the company will factor in user-submitted evidence and its own patent-pending research system. The platform is currently available only outside the US, operates on-chain with stablecoins, and is in talks with market makers for liquidity. Tech investor Peter Wokwicz, who funded the project, claims he purchased a regulated financial exchange to roll Verifact into. The startup faces legal uncertainties over prediction markets and follows the short-lived Peter Thiel-funded Objection (later The Primary).