Polymarket is the world’s largest crypto-based prediction market where you trade on real-world events using USDC. It’s now officially approved by the CFTC for U.S. users.
| Founded | 2020 |
| Regulation | CFTC Approved (Nov 2025) |
| Min Deposit | $10 USDC |
| Fees | 0% global / 0.01% U.S. |
| Payment | Crypto (USDC) |
| Mobile App | Yes (iOS & Android) |
| Best For | Crypto users who want high liquidity |
Polymarket Pros & Cons
✓ Pros
- 0% trading fees (0.01% for U.S. users)
- Highest liquidity of any prediction market
- Largest selection of markets
- CFTC approved for U.S. users
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Real-time price data
✗ Cons
- Requires crypto (USDC) - no fiat deposits
- Learning curve for crypto beginners
- Some markets unavailable in U.S.
- Gas fees on deposits/withdrawals
What Is Polymarket?
Polymarket is a prediction market platform built on the Polygon blockchain. You buy shares on outcomes you think will happen. If you’re right, each share pays $1. If wrong, you lose your stake.
The platform processed over $3.74 billion in trading volume in November 2025 alone. It offers markets on politics, sports, crypto, and current events. All trades happen using USDC stablecoin.
What makes Polymarket different is its liquidity. With millions in daily trading, you can enter and exit positions quickly without moving prices. The platform uses blockchain technology, making every trade transparent and verifiable.
How Polymarket Works
Choose between two options:
Email login (easier): Sign up with email using Magic embedded wallet. Polymarket creates a proxy wallet for you automatically.
Web3 wallet (self-custody): Connect MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet if you prefer full control.
Both options deploy a non-custodial wallet. The email option just makes it simpler.
Buy USDC from an exchange (Coinbase, Binance) or use Polymarket’s built-in MoonPay integration to buy directly with a credit card. Minimum deposit is $10.
Search or scroll through 1,000+ active markets. Each market has a question, current odds (shown as prices from $0.01 to $0.99), and trading volume.
Choose Yes or No shares. If you think something will happen, buy Yes shares. The price you pay is what the market thinks the probability is. For example, $0.70 per share means the crowd thinks there’s a 70% chance.
When the event resolves, winning shares pay $1 each. Losing shares pay $0. Profits appear in your wallet automatically. You can withdraw any time.
Real Example:
You buy 100 Yes shares at $0.65 each ($65 total). The event happens. You receive $100 (100 shares × $1). Your profit is $35.
Polymarket Fees Explained
Global Platform (Non-U.S. Users):
- Trading fees: 0%
- Deposit fees: 0%
- Withdrawal fees: 0% (just blockchain gas fees, usually $1-$5)
You only pay what your intermediaries charge (Coinbase, MoonPay, etc.) plus small blockchain transaction costs.
U.S. Platform:
- Trading fee: 0.01% per contract
- On a $100 trade, you pay 1 cent
Comparison:
Kalshi charges around 1.2% average fees. PredictIt takes 10% on profits plus 5% withdrawal fees. Polymarket’s fees are 100x lower than Kalshi.
Hidden Costs:
Watch for spread (difference between buy and sell prices) in low-volume markets. Also budget for blockchain gas fees when depositing or withdrawing.
- 0% trading fees
- Highest liquidity
- CFTC approved for U.S.
Who Should Use Polymarket?
| ✅ Best For | ❌ Not For |
|---|---|
| Traders who want the lowest fees possible | Users who refuse to touch crypto at all |
| Anyone seeking high liquidity and fast trades | People who prefer traditional bank deposits |
| U.S. users now that CFTC approved access | Anyone uncomfortable managing digital assets |
| Beginners willing to learn USDC (email login makes it easier) |
Alternative: If you want a simpler, USD-based option with traditional banking, try Kalshi. It’s CFTC regulated but has higher fees and lower liquidity.
Key Features
Massive Market Variety
Over 1,000 active markets cover everything from presidential elections to Fed rate decisions to sports outcomes. If it’s newsworthy, there’s probably a market for it.
Real-Time Odds
Prices update instantly as news breaks. The crowd’s prediction adjusts in real-time, making Polymarket one of the most accurate forecasting tools available.
Mobile Trading
Full-featured iOS and Android apps let you trade from anywhere. The interface is clean and fast, matching the desktop experience.
Non-Custodial Security
You control your funds in your own wallet. Polymarket never holds your money. This means more security control but also more responsibility.
Oracle-Based Settlement
Markets resolve using UMA protocol’s decentralized oracle system. This prevents manipulation and ensures fair outcomes based on objective data sources.
API & Bot Development
Polymarket offers free CLOB and Gamma APIs for developers building trading bots and algorithmic strategies. The on-chain architecture makes complete automation possible—from market making bots to AI-powered agents. Premium tiers ($99+/month) unlock WebSocket feeds and historical data for high-frequency traders.
Safety & Trust
Regulation:
On November 25, 2025, Polymarket received CFTC approval to operate in the United States as an intermediated exchange. This ended the platform’s 3-year ban and brought it under federal oversight.
Security:
Your funds stay in your own Web3 wallet, not on Polymarket’s servers. The platform uses smart contracts audited by multiple firms. However, you’re responsible for wallet security (seed phrase, private keys).
Track Record:
Polymarket launched in 2020 and has processed billions in volume without major hacks or loss of user funds. The platform correctly predicted the 2024 U.S. election within 2% of actual results.
Red Flags:
In 2022, Polymarket paid a $1.4 million CFTC fine for operating unregistered markets. The company has since worked with regulators to gain proper approval.
Verdict on Safety:
Polymarket is now a regulated, proven platform. The main risk is user error (losing your seed phrase or sending funds to wrong address). Use proper wallet security and you should be fine.
Getting Started
Quick Start Checklist:
- Sign up with email (easy) or install MetaMask (advanced) – 5 minutes
- Buy USDC from Coinbase or use Polymarket’s MoonPay – 10 minutes
- Deposit to Polymarket (your proxy wallet gets created automatically)
- Start small with $10-$25 to learn how it works
- Try a simple market first (yes/no question you understand)
- Watch the prices change to see how crowd predictions work
Time Estimate: 15-30 minutes from zero to first trade (faster with email option)
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Don’t invest more than you can afford to lose while learning
- Don’t trade illiquid markets (check trading volume first)
- Don’t lose your wallet seed phrase (write it down offline)
- Don’t ignore blockchain gas fees in your budget
- 0% trading fees
- Highest liquidity
- CFTC approved for U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. As of November 25, 2025, Polymarket is CFTC-approved to operate in the United States. It now functions as a federally regulated exchange under the Commodity Exchange Act.
Before this approval, U.S. users were blocked. The platform paid a $1.4 million fine in 2022 for operating without proper registration. That issue is now resolved.
Very accurate. Polymarket’s odds often beat expert predictions and traditional polls. For the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Polymarket’s final odds were within 2% of the actual result.
The wisdom of crowds works because traders risk real money. Wrong predictions cost money, so participants share genuine information rather than wishful thinking.
Yes. Your funds sit in your wallet, not locked on the platform. You can withdraw to your bank via a crypto exchange like Coinbase whenever you want.
Settlement happens when events resolve. If you buy shares in a market still open, you must either sell them or wait for the outcome before accessing that money.
Yes, in most countries including the U.S. Profits count as capital gains. Report all trades even if Polymarket doesn’t send you tax forms.
Keep records of deposits, trades, and withdrawals. Use a crypto tax tool like CoinTracker to calculate your obligations. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Email/Magic wallet users: You can recover access through your email. Polymarket uses Magic’s system to help restore your account.
Self-custody wallet users (MetaMask): If you lose your seed phrase, you lose access permanently. No one can recover it.
Write your 12-word seed phrase on paper and store it safely offline if using self-custody. Email option is more forgiving for beginners.
No, it’s trading on prediction markets. The difference is that gambling has house odds designed to favor the casino. Prediction markets trade against other users at fair market prices.
However, you can lose money if your predictions are wrong. Treat it like investing—only risk what you can afford to lose. Many countries classify prediction markets as trading, not gambling, but check local laws.
Final Verdict
Polymarket is the best prediction market platform for users comfortable with crypto. It offers unmatched liquidity, the lowest fees in the industry, and CFTC approval for U.S. traders.
Bottom line: If you know how to use a crypto wallet and want the most markets at the best prices, Polymarket is your top choice. If you prefer USD deposits and traditional banking, check out Kalshi instead.
The platform isn’t perfect—crypto beginners may struggle with the wallet setup. But for anyone willing to learn, Polymarket delivers the smoothest, most cost-effective prediction market experience available.
Our recommendation: Try it with $25. Learn the basics. If you like it, scale up. Just don’t skip the wallet security basics.
- 0% trading fees
- Highest liquidity
- CFTC approved for U.S.