What Is Polymarket?
Polymarket is the world's largest prediction market platform. It lets you trade on the outcome of real-world events — from elections and economics to sports and culture. Instead of speculating on stock prices, you buy and sell shares in questions like "Will the Fed cut rates in June?" or "Who will win the 2028 presidential election?"
If you are new to prediction markets, check out our guide on what prediction markets are before diving in.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Getting started on Polymarket takes less than five minutes.
- Visit Polymarket.com and click "Sign Up."
- Connect a wallet — Polymarket runs on the Polygon blockchain. You can sign up with an email address, which creates a wallet automatically, or connect an existing crypto wallet like MetaMask.
- Verify your identity — Depending on your region, you may need to complete a basic KYC (Know Your Customer) check. This is standard across regulated platforms.
Note that Polymarket is not available to US residents for real-money trading due to regulatory restrictions. If you are unsure about your region, read our guide on whether Polymarket is legal in your country.
Step 2: Deposit Funds
Polymarket uses USDC (a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar) as its trading currency.
- Deposit via crypto — Send USDC on the Polygon network directly to your Polymarket wallet.
- Deposit via card — Polymarket supports debit card deposits through third-party providers, making it easy for non-crypto users to get started.
- Minimum deposit — There is no strict minimum, but having at least $20-$50 gives you enough to explore several markets without overcommitting.
Step 3: Browse and Understand Markets
Once funded, explore the available markets. Each market poses a yes-or-no question with shares priced between $0.01 and $1.00.
- A share priced at $0.70 means the market collectively estimates a 70% probability the event will happen.
- You can buy YES shares (betting the event happens) or NO shares (betting it does not).
- When the event resolves, winning shares pay out $1.00 each.
Browse trending markets on PredMarket.io's market explorer to find opportunities across politics, crypto, sports, and more.
Step 4: Place Your First Trade
Here is how to execute a trade:
- Select a market that interests you.
- Choose YES or NO based on your view.
- Enter the amount you want to spend.
- Review the potential payout — Polymarket shows your expected profit if you win.
- Confirm the trade — The transaction executes on-chain, and your shares appear in your portfolio.
Start small. Place a few trades in markets you understand well before committing larger amounts. Understanding how to read prediction market odds is essential before sizing up.
Step 5: Manage Your Portfolio
After placing trades, keep an eye on your positions.
- Monitor price changes — Share prices move as new information comes in. A YES share you bought at $0.40 might climb to $0.65 as the event becomes more likely.
- Sell early — You do not have to wait for resolution. If a share you bought at $0.40 is now trading at $0.70, you can sell for a profit without waiting for the event to happen.
- Diversify — Spread your capital across multiple markets to reduce risk.
Tips for New Traders
Start with what you know. If you follow politics closely, trade political markets. If you understand crypto, trade crypto markets. Your edge comes from having better information or analysis than the crowd.
Avoid emotional trading. It is tempting to bet on what you want to happen rather than what you think will happen. Prediction markets reward objectivity.
Watch the volume. Markets with higher trading volume tend to have more accurate prices and better liquidity. Low-volume markets can be harder to enter and exit.
Think in probabilities, not certainties. Even an event with a 90% implied probability fails one time in ten. Position sizing matters — learn about bankroll management and strategies to protect your capital.
What Happens When a Market Resolves?
When the event outcome is confirmed, Polymarket resolves the market:
- Winning shares pay out $1.00 each, automatically credited to your wallet.
- Losing shares become worthless.
- Funds are available to withdraw or reinvest immediately.
Ready to Start?
Polymarket makes prediction market trading accessible to anyone with an internet connection and a few dollars. The platform combines the thrill of trading with the intellectual challenge of forecasting real-world events. Start by browsing the latest markets, and remember — the best traders are the ones who think in probabilities and manage their risk carefully.