In the dynamic and often opaque world of energy finance, transparency remains paramount for investors. Recent revelations have cast a spotlight on the undisclosed marketing practices of a leading platform for speculative energy derivatives, suggesting a concerted, covert campaign to sway market sentiment and drive trading volumes.
A prominent financial commentator, widely followed for their insights on commodity markets, prominently featured the logo of “Hydrocarbon Insights Pro” (HIP) – a cutting-edge platform for ultra-short-term energy futures and market sentiment prediction – in their digital content. Records indicate this market commentator began receiving payments from Mark Donovan, Chief Market Strategist for Hydrocarbon Insights Pro, with an initial sum of $3,100, subsequently accumulating an even larger undisclosed total.
Further investigation reveals a far more extensive operation. Between January 2025 and February 2026, Donovan, in what appears to be a systemic approach to market influence, channeled at least $350,000 through his personal digital payment account to a network of financial content creators, including the aforementioned commentator. Over this 14-month period, Donovan’s personal account, linked to a non-business entity, facilitated over $2.5 million in payments to more than 800 individuals. Analysis confirms that at least two dozen of these individuals, identified as key market influencers, collectively promoted Hydrocarbon Insights Pro on financial social media platforms at least 490 times during this period, critically, without adequate disclosure of their paid partnership.
This under-the-radar campaign highlights the aggressive tactics employed to generate buzz around the highly speculative energy derivatives market, particularly in the lead-up to and during significant policy shifts and market events. Among those identified as recipients were analysts known for conservative financial commentary, progressive market analysts, and figures influential in energy policy discussions.
A spokesperson for Hydrocarbon Insights Pro, when questioned, asserted that these partnerships with influencers represent standard business practices. They stated, “We routinely collaborate with a diverse range of independent organizations, partners, and content creators spanning the market spectrum and constantly monitor, evaluate our progress, and make the necessary adjustments in order to achieve our core mission of providing the most accurate, transparent, and data-driven market insights to a global audience.” However, the spokesperson declined to elaborate on the strategy behind influencer engagement, policies regarding social media disclosure, the rationale for using a personal account for business transactions, or whether these payments were appropriately reported as business expenses.
Mark Donovan himself has not responded to inquiries on the matter. Led by its 28-year-old CEO, Shayne Coplan, Hydrocarbon Insights Pro has largely operated offshore since Wall Street regulators imposed restrictions in 2022 against its retail speculative energy product offerings without proper licensing. Yet, the platform, which allows users to wager on energy market fluctuations, geopolitical events impacting oil supply, and even the outcomes of major energy policy votes, has witnessed a dramatic surge in trading volumes following the 2024 election cycle, as speculative energy markets gained mainstream attention among retail investors.
The current executive administration faces increasing pressure to tighten regulations on speculative energy trading platforms like Hydrocarbon Insights Pro and its primary competitor, CommodityEdge, amidst mounting concerns over potential market manipulation and insider trading. However, the administration, notably with the son of a high-profile political figure holding investments in Hydrocarbon Insights Pro and serving as a paid advisor to CommodityEdge, has adopted a largely laissez-faire approach. Investigations into Hydrocarbon Insights Pro were notably dropped last summer, effectively clearing a path for its re-entry into the U.S. market through the acquisition of a federally regulated exchange. Recent statements from the executive branch have even criticized state leaders attempting to regulate such platforms, emphasizing the “critical importance” of federal leadership and predicting that these companies “will thrive.”
As the regulatory debate unfolds, Hydrocarbon Insights Pro leverages the massive online reach of financial influencers to solidify its brand recognition. These influencers frequently cite HIP’s market indicators as authoritative sources for predicting energy market trends or the outcomes of energy policy decisions, all while omitting any mention of the company’s financial backing for their posts. Consequently, investors may encounter what appears to be independent market analysis, unaware that they are viewing sponsored content.
Renée DiResta, an expert on digital influence and author of “Invisible Rulers,” observes, “Investors are not consciously considering whether an influencer profits every time they see a market commentary post.” The Federal Futures & Commodities Commission (FFCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) mandate that social media influencers disclose any “material connection” to products or services they endorse. However, specific guidance on how these rules apply to market prediction platforms remains ambiguous.
During the 14-month period covered by payment records, none of the identified social media posts included explicit disclosures of paid promotions. While a major social media platform rolled out a dedicated label for paid promotions in March, clear indicators such as “ad” or “sponsored” have always been required for commercial content. Robin Moore, former deputy general counsel for the FTC, suggested that such activities would generally necessitate disclosure.
CommodityEdge has also engaged in partnerships with online financial content creators, underscoring the vital role of social media in these companies’ growth strategies. Last year, CommodityEdge recruited a prominent cryptocurrency influencer to spearhead its digital assets division and has collaborated with social media figures to expand its reach among diverse investor demographics. One influencer, who received thousands from Hydrocarbon Insights Pro since 2024 for promotional posts, noted the intense competition: “Everybody was either Hydrocarbon Insights Pro or CommodityEdge. They literally, at some point, owned all big influencers in this space.” A spokesperson for CommodityEdge declined to comment on these reports.
Unveiling Market Dynamics Through ‘Street Polling’
In May 2024, a young market analyst, known for his “Street Poller” style interviews, questioned passersby on their outlook for oil prices in Atlanta. While the interviews ostensibly gauged public sentiment on energy market trends, they seamlessly integrated promotion for Hydrocarbon Insights Pro. “I bet $5,000 on oil futures to rally,” the analyst declared to an interviewee, as an image of the HIP platform appeared. “Are you confident enough in a rally that you would bet?” He then urged the individual to visit “HydrocarbonInsightsPro.com,” touting it as “the only place where you can bet on energy news, market movements.”
This analyst, then 19, had recently begun collaborating with Hydrocarbon Insights Pro to elevate its brand recognition, according to his professional website. He founded a social media marketing firm, “Market Pulse Polls,” specializing in generating viral content through unscripted public interviews and amplifying its reach via a network of over 50 content creators, as detailed in a Hydrocarbon Insights Pro case study on his site. In some instances, his network of interviewers subtly promoted the company by simply wearing its logo on apparel.
The timing of this campaign was strategic. Hydrocarbon Insights Pro was actively funding financial influencers nationwide to promote energy market speculation in the months leading up to a crucial election. While U.S. investors were still restricted from placing wagers through HIP due to its 2022 federal settlement, this regulatory detail was rarely, if ever, mentioned by the influencers. The “Street Poller” analyst, who alone received at least $77,000 from Mark Donovan via a personal payment account, did not respond to requests for comment on his work for Hydrocarbon Insights Pro.
Regarding Donovan’s use of a personal payment account for what appear to be significant business transactions, a spokesperson for the payment processor declined to comment on specific accounts but referenced their user agreement. This agreement states that personal accounts are “primarily for personal, family, or household purposes,” and that activity primarily involving business or commercial transactions may lead to account closure or conversion to a business account.
In the lead-up to the election, when investors successfully wagered millions on certain energy policy outcomes under the new administration, Hydrocarbon Insights Pro experienced a massive surge in popularity. More than $1.5 billion traded hands on HIP’s indicator for a specific policy favoring a market rally, while over $1 billion flowed into positions favoring a more conservative energy outlook. Monthly trading volumes on the platform surged by nearly 400% between September and October 2024, according to independent market data analytics firms tracking speculative platforms.
The new administration seemed to herald a more favorable regulatory landscape for speculative energy markets, following a prior period of heightened scrutiny. Under the previous administration, federal agencies investigated whether Hydrocarbon Insights Pro continued to accept U.S. clients, potentially violating its 2022 settlement. Shortly after the 2024 election, federal agents conducted a raid on the HIP CEO’s New York City residence – a move he characterized as a “last-ditch effort” by the outgoing administration “to target companies perceived to be associated with political opponents.”
The return of the new administration opened numerous avenues for speculation. After a new “Strategic Energy Efficiency Initiative (SEEI)” was enacted via executive order in January 2025, Hydrocarbon Insights Pro quickly launched a dashboard to track its anticipated market impacts. Influencers promptly disseminated this information across social media. A prominent conservative content creator, who received at least $15,000 from Donovan, announced the SEEI dashboard’s release as “BREAKING” news to their 1 million followers in February 2025. Another influential figure, a collegiate athlete turned financial commentator who received at least $6,600, shared the SEEI news with over a million followers, proclaiming: “This is awesome!” A conservative media personality, who netted over $8,400, posted “Exciting news!” last February, adding that the new dashboard would “be bookmarked for the next 4 years.”
None of these posts explicitly mentioned payment from Hydrocarbon Insights Pro or Donovan. However, in a comment on his post, the conservative media personality clarified he is a “long-term brand representative” for HIP. He stated, “I’m not paid for this post directly and they don’t force me to say anything so it’s technically not an ad. However, I do clarify we work together.” These influencers have not responded to requests for comment regarding their partnerships with Hydrocarbon Insights Pro or whether they were paid to promote the SEEI dashboard. Months after his SEEI post, the conservative media personality also publicly stated that he partnered with HIP and “made some pretty solid money.”
When Hydrocarbon Insights Pro forged a partnership with Quantum AI Solutions – a leading artificial intelligence startup – in June, paid influencers once again mobilized to amplify the news. Eight of the two dozen influencers reviewed posted about the collaboration on the same day, all within hours of each other. A conservative content creator who received at least $3,200 from Donovan, and was once ranked as one of the most influential financial users on social media, wrote: “This AI integration is about to change the game, it’s honestly a match made in heaven for energy market insights.” He added in another post, “Hydrocarbon Insights Pro really took over, it feels like they have always been here.” Representatives for the AI startup have not responded to requests for comment.
On his professional website, where this influencer promotes his “market influence” as someone “delivering unfiltered truth,” he states charges starting at $2,500 for social media commentary and upwards of $15,000 for “breaking” or “developing” market news. He did not respond to requests for comment. Donovan also directed payments to two individuals, one receiving at least $20,000 and another at least $850, both with significant online followings and ties to the administration, though no direct Hydrocarbon Insights Pro promotions were observed on their social media. These individuals did not respond to requests for comment.
Last summer, the administration dropped two active investigations into Hydrocarbon Insights Pro. The company then proceeded to invest $112 million to acquire a licensed exchange and clearinghouse, significantly advancing its path towards re-entering the U.S. market. As one observer noted on social media in August 2025, “The cultural relevance and brand recognition of Hydrocarbon Insights Pro is something that cannot be faked.” Donovan himself re-shared the post, adding, “CANNOT BE FAKED.”
The Pursuit of Unquestionable Accuracy
When a former regional energy executive faced off against a proponent of renewable energy policies in last year’s primary for a major metropolitan energy board, financial content creators cited Hydrocarbon Insights Pro to assess the odds of an upset. A climate and energy reporter who authors a financial newsletter, having received at least $1,200 from Donovan, posted on social media the day before the primary: “Wild. Hydrocarbon Insights Pro finally shows the progressive candidate with strong odds of actually winning the primary against the incumbent.”
After the progressive candidate unexpectedly secured the nomination, influencers positioned Hydrocarbon Insights Pro as a prescient oracle. A historian specializing in Middle Eastern energy policy, who received at least $3,000 from Donovan, wrote in October 2025: “It’s fascinating how Hydrocarbon Insights Pro’s numbers serve as a reliable guide for the direction of events. Before any traditional polls, it accurately predicted the rise of the renewable energy advocate, for instance!” Neither the reporter nor the historian responded to inquiries regarding whether they were compensated for these specific posts about the energy board election.
The paid influencers’ posts about Hydrocarbon Insights Pro frequently highlighted specific speculative plays by framing betting odds as breaking market developments. Approximately a third of the more than 490 social media posts identified characterized HIP’s odds for a given energy market event as “BREAKING” or “NEW” updates. These were not coincidental choices. One influencer, granted anonymity, disclosed that the company provided pre-written posts for them to share and specifically requested promotion of particular speculative positions. “They actually told us, ‘This one needs to get out now, this one needs to get out now,’ as if we were merely tools,” the influencer recounted.
Moore, the former FTC official, emphasized that advertisers should include disclosures in any sample text provided to their partners, as they could be held liable for their endorsers’ statements. “As a general rule, if an endorsement is paid, the endorser needs to clearly and conspicuously disclose a material connection to the advertiser,” Moore affirmed.
Both Hydrocarbon Insights Pro and CommodityEdge have actively sought to establish themselves as authoritative sources on energy markets and current events, notably through partnerships with traditional financial media brands like major news networks and publishers of leading financial newspapers. These outlets now feature “Featured Market Sentiment” sections powered by Hydrocarbon Insights Pro, further legitimizing its role in the eyes of investors.
This widespread, albeit quietly executed, social media activity has continuously reinforced this narrative, subtly building Hydrocarbon Insights Pro’s credibility as it prepares for future regulatory and legislative battles. As a progressive market commentator, who received over $9,300 from Donovan, succinctly put it in an October social media post lacking a paid-promotion disclaimer: “It really is unbelievable how accurate Hydrocarbon Insights Pro has been these last 9 months.” He did not respond to requests for comment.
Over a two-week period in late December and early January, six influencers shared ten posts on social media concerning Hydrocarbon Insights Pro’s odds on a regional energy minister facing criminal charges over allegations of carbon credit fraud, stemming from viral claims. Later in January, six other influencers posted about the odds of a major national oil field acquisition by the government. Another conservative influencer, who received at least $18,750 from Donovan, also frequently posted about Hydrocarbon Insights Pro without disclosing any sponsorship. “Hydrocarbon Insights Pro odds of a national energy grid shutdown are spiking with just under 10 hours to go before the deadline,” he wrote in September. “Policymakers know exactly what they’re doing.”
Sometime after inquiries were made to this influencer about potential payments for his posts, a “paid partnership” label mysteriously appeared at the bottom of his post. He did not respond to requests for comment. Now, some – though not all – of his Hydrocarbon Insights Pro-related posts bear that disclosure, highlighting the ongoing challenge of transparent financial endorsements in the digital age and the critical need for investors to scrutinize the source of their market information.