Polymarket, a decentralized prediction market platform renowned for its ability to enable users to wager on global events, has faced scrutiny following a series of posts published on X by one of its interns, which, when combined, formed the derogatory term "retardio."

In a statement released on April 23, the company expressed deep regret for failing to uphold its standards, acknowledging that the offensive posts, originating from Polymarket's official X account, were swiftly removed upon detection. "We want to unequivocally emphasize that this language is entirely unacceptable and does not align with the values or the inclusive culture we strive to promote at Polymarket."

The offensive posts, comprised of individual letters, were issued from Polymarket's verified X account. When assembled in sequence, they formed the derogatory term "retardio," a word commonly used to demean individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Polymarket confirmed that the intern responsible for the posts has been terminated from their role within the organization. In response to calls from the crypto community urging the rehiring of the intern, a Polymarket spokesperson defended the company's decision, asserting that the intern had "crossed a line," and asserting that detractors "do not grasp the principles of corporate governance."