Polymarket
USDC-settled on Polygon. Largest prediction market by volume.
- โ International users wanting the deepest liquidity on global political and economic markets
- โ Crypto-native traders comfortable with USDC and a non-custodial wallet
- โ Anyone trading elections, geopolitics, and major world events
- โ Traders who want USD/fiat settlement or traditional bank transfers
- โ Anyone without a crypto wallet and USDC
- โ Anyone looking for sports markets
About this operator
Polymarket is the largest prediction market by traded volume, settling all trades in USDC on the Polygon blockchain. After a 2022 CFTC settlement it restricts US retail access on its main platform, though it remains the dominant venue globally for political, economic and cultural event contracts. A US retail relaunch via its acquired QCEX DCM licence is in waitlist rollout for 2026. In April 2026, Polymarket cooperated with a DOJ prosecution of an active-duty Army sergeant who used classified intelligence to earn $400,000+ on the platform, the first criminal insider trading case involving a prediction market.
Quick facts
| Founded | 2020 |
| Headquarters | New York, USA |
| Type | Crypto / On-chain |
| Settlement | USDC on Polygon |
| Fees | ~2% (taker) |
| Min deposit | $1 |
| KYC | Light (geo-restricted) |
| Volume | $8B+ lifetime |
| โ Last verified April 2026 | |
Polymarket โ Scorecard
Editorial ratings based on publicly available data. Your experience may vary.
Polymarket โ strengths & weaknesses
- โ Deepest liquidity
- โ Broad market coverage
- โ On-chain settlement
- โ US retail users blocked on main platform (licensed US app via waitlist in 2026)
- โ Requires a crypto wallet and USDC (no USD or bank account option)
- โ No sports markets
- โ ~2% taker fee on every transaction, win or lose
Real cost: Polymarket
Every buy or sell costs ~2% of the trade value, win or lose. Buying $100 of YES shares costs ~$2 upfront. A round trip (buy then sell) costs ~$4 in fees regardless of the outcome. There are no withdrawal fees beyond standard Polygon gas (~$0.01/tx).
Getting started: Polymarket
- 1 Install a crypto wallet: MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or Phantom
- 2 Buy USDC on a crypto exchange (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance) and transfer to your wallet
- 3 Go to polymarket.com, click "Connect Wallet" (no email or account needed)
- 4 Browse markets, click a contract, and place a limit or market order
FAQ โ Polymarket
Can US users use Polymarket? +
US retail users are restricted on the main Polymarket platform following a 2022 CFTC settlement. Polymarket acquired QCEX, a CFTC-licensed exchange, in late 2025 and is rolling out a new, fully licensed US app via a waitlist. Full public access is estimated for Q3โQ4 2026. Non-US users can access the main platform freely via a crypto wallet.
Do I need a crypto wallet to use Polymarket? +
Yes. Polymarket settles all trades in USDC on the Polygon blockchain. You need a compatible crypto wallet (such as MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or Phantom) funded with USDC to trade. There is no fiat (bank) on-ramp directly on the platform; you need to acquire USDC via a crypto exchange first.
What fees does Polymarket charge? +
Polymarket charges approximately 2% on taker orders (market buys and sells). Limit orders that rest in the orderbook are charged a lower or zero maker fee. Fees are taken in USDC at the time of the transaction. There is no deposit or withdrawal fee on the blockchain side, though you will pay Polygon network gas fees (typically under $0.01 per transaction).
Is Polymarket safe? +
Polymarket uses on-chain settlement via UMA's optimistic oracle on Polygon. Funds are held in audited smart contracts rather than with a centralized custodian, which removes counterparty risk but introduces smart-contract risk. The platform has processed over $8 billion in lifetime volume without a systemic failure. The main risks are geo-restriction enforcement changes and the inherent complexity of self-custody.
What markets are available on Polymarket? +
Polymarket focuses on global politics (elections, geopolitics, international affairs), economics, science, and culture. It does not offer sports markets. Its orderbooks are the deepest in the world on high-profile political events: US presidential elections, geopolitical conflicts, and international political races regularly see millions of dollars in volume.
