Is Polymarket available in the United States?

No. Polymarket is not open to US persons and uses geofencing to enforce that. US traders who want a regulated venue typically use Kalshi instead, which operates under CFTC oversight.

Do I need cryptocurrency to use Polymarket?

Yes. Polymarket settles in USDC, a US-dollar stablecoin, on the Polygon network. You can use an in-app on-ramp to convert a card or bank payment into USDC, but the underlying balance is crypto.

What fees does Polymarket charge?

Polymarket does not charge a per-trade commission. Your real costs are the bid-ask spread on the market and a small amount of network gas for on-chain transactions.

Can I sell a Polymarket position before the event resolves?

Yes. Because prices trade on an order book, you can sell your contracts at the current market price any time before resolution to take a profit or limit a loss.

Each contract pays $1.00 if its outcome happens and $0.00 if it does not. So a Yes share bought at 60¢ returns $1.00 — a 40¢ profit — if the market resolves Yes.

Getting started · 6 min read

How to Start on Polymarket: Wallet, USDC & Your First Trade

Polymarket is the largest crypto-native prediction market, with the deepest liquidity on politics, news, and crypto questions. It settles in USDC on the Polygon network, which makes funding a little different from a typical betting account — but the trade itself is simple once you are set up.

This guide walks through creating an account, funding it, placing your first order, and the most important rules and risks to understand before you put money in.

Set up your account and wallet

You can sign up with an email or an existing crypto wallet. Polymarket creates a self-custody wallet behind the scenes, so your funds live on-chain rather than in a house account — you keep control, but you are also responsible for security.

Save any recovery details Polymarket gives you. Losing access to the wallet means losing access to the funds, with no support desk that can reset a password the way a sportsbook would.

Fund with USDC

Polymarket trades are denominated in USDC, a US-dollar stablecoin, on Polygon. You can deposit USDC directly, or use the in-app on-ramp to convert a card or bank payment into USDC.

Budget a few dollars for network gas on your first transactions. Once funded, your balance shows in dollars, and every contract trades between $0.00 and $1.00.

Place your first trade

Pick a market and a side — Yes or No, or one outcome of a multi-way market. The price you see is the implied probability: 60¢ means the market thinks there is a 60% chance, and pays $1.00 if it resolves your way.

You can take the current price with a market order, or set a limit order at a better price and wait for someone to match it. A limit order can save you money in a market with a wide spread.

Market order — fills immediately at the best available price.
Limit order — rests on the order book until another trader matches your price.
Sell any time before resolution to lock in a profit or cut a loss.

Fees, withdrawals, and risks

Polymarket charges no per-trade commission; your cost is the spread and the small network gas fee. Withdrawals send USDC back to a wallet or off-ramp of your choice.

The biggest thing to know: Polymarket is not available to US persons, and access is geofenced. It is also self-custody and lightly regulated compared with a CFTC exchange, so treat position sizing and security seriously.

Frequently asked questions

Is Polymarket available in the United States?: No. Polymarket is not open to US persons and uses geofencing to enforce that. US traders who want a regulated venue typically use Kalshi instead, which operates under CFTC oversight.
Do I need cryptocurrency to use Polymarket?: Yes. Polymarket settles in USDC, a US-dollar stablecoin, on the Polygon network. You can use an in-app on-ramp to convert a card or bank payment into USDC, but the underlying balance is crypto.
What fees does Polymarket charge?: Polymarket does not charge a per-trade commission. Your real costs are the bid-ask spread on the market and a small amount of network gas for on-chain transactions.
Can I sell a Polymarket position before the event resolves?: Yes. Because prices trade on an order book, you can sell your contracts at the current market price any time before resolution to take a profit or limit a loss.
How do payouts work?: Each contract pays $1.00 if its outcome happens and $0.00 if it does not. So a Yes share bought at 60¢ returns $1.00 — a 40¢ profit — if the market resolves Yes.

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Educational content for informational purposes only. Not betting or financial advice. Please gamble responsibly. 21+ where applicable.