🇨🇦 Mark Carney Becomes Canada's 24th Prime Minister Amid Tight Political Race
👔 Mark Carney officially assumed office as Canada’s 24th prime minister during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, led by Governor General Mary Simon. Initially, a Polymarket bet indicated that Carney had surpassed Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, but the competition between them remains extremely close.
📈 Carney's rise to power came after Justin Trudeau's resignation. Despite having no prior elected political experience, Carney secured his position by garnering support from 66 Liberal caucus members, avoiding the usual electoral process. A prediction market bet on Polymarket titled “Next Prime Minister of Canada after the election?” shows Carney gaining ground in a tense race.
🔄 On March 14, just two days ago, Carney overtook Poilievre with a 52% chance compared to Poilievre’s 47%. However, this lead was short-lived as Poilievre quickly regained the upper hand the following day.
💰 The high-stakes wager, totaling $12.87 million, will conclude on October 20, 2025. Before Trudeau's departure, Poilievre had already surpassed the former prime minister. A showdown between Carney and Poilievre seems inevitable, with both sides preparing for a battle that could significantly impact Canadian politics.
📊 As of 7 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 16, 2025, Poilievre leads with a 54% advantage over Carney’s 47% on Polymarket’s platform. A similar trend is observed on Kalshi, where Poilievre is ahead 52% to 48%. Both prediction market platforms experienced dramatic shifts in odds on March 14, coinciding with Carney's swearing-in.
💬 In the crypto sphere, Poilievre is the clear favorite. He is a proponent of bitcoin (BTC) and has previously advocated for digital currencies.
Canada needs less financial control for politicians and bankers and more financial freedom for the people,
Poilievre stated in 2021, emphasizing the importance of crypto ownership and decentralized finance.
🔒 In contrast, Carney has a different stance on digital finance. A longtime insider at the World Economic Forum (WEF), he supports central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and has criticized bitcoin.
CBDCs offer a safer, government-overseen alternative to decentralized cryptocurrencies,
Carney argues.