Platform Guide

Polymarket:
The World's Largest
Prediction Market

Polymarket is a global, blockchain-based prediction market where you trade on the outcome of real-world events using USDC. With billions in annual volume and hundreds of active markets, it's where serious prediction traders go first.

$3B+
Annual trading volume
500+
Active markets
2%
Maximum trading fee
◆ Platform Quick Facts
Founded2020
CurrencyUSDC (crypto)
BlockchainPolygon
RegulatedNo (offshore)
Trading feeUp to 2%
Min trade$1 USDC
Platform Overview

What is Polymarket?

Polymarket is a decentralised prediction market built on the Polygon blockchain. Instead of betting against a bookie, you trade directly with other users — the platform itself is just the interface. Contracts pay out $1 if the outcome you backed is correct, and $0 if it isn't.

All positions are denominated in USDC — a digital dollar pegged 1:1 to the US dollar. Because it runs on blockchain, your funds are held in a non-custodial wallet rather than on the platform's balance sheet. Resolution is handled by the UMA oracle, an independent dispute mechanism that evaluates outcomes against clearly defined criteria.

Polymarket sits outside traditional financial regulation, which means it's accessible globally — though users in the United States and a small number of other jurisdictions are restricted by its terms of service. Always check availability in your country before signing up.

$63.5B
Total lifetime trading volume
600k+
Registered traders worldwide
24/7
Always-on markets, no closing time
1¢
Minimum contract price increment
Key Features

What makes Polymarket different

A decentralised model brings some distinct advantages over traditional platforms — and a few trade-offs worth knowing.

Global access
Polymarket is accessible from most countries with no geographic restrictions on the underlying smart contracts. No bank approval, no currency conversion — just USDC in, USDC out.
Highest market liquidity
Major political and crypto markets on Polymarket routinely see tens of millions of dollars in volume — meaning you can enter and exit large positions without significantly moving the price.
Non-custodial funds
Your USDC is held in a smart contract wallet, not on a centralised server. The platform can't freeze your funds or prevent withdrawals — a meaningful advantage over traditional exchanges.
Deep market history
Every trade is recorded on-chain, giving Polymarket one of the richest public datasets in prediction markets. iPredicta uses this history to surface the most signal-rich opportunities.
Stablecoin denomination
All positions are in USDC — a dollar-pegged stablecoin. You're not exposed to crypto price volatility just by holding funds on the platform. $100 in is always $100 in.
Instant settlement
When a market resolves, winnings are paid instantly into your wallet — no withdrawal processing period. You can redeploy capital into new markets within seconds of a resolution.
Getting Started

How to start trading on Polymarket

From zero to your first trade in three steps. No prior crypto experience required if you use the email sign-up route.

1
Create your account
Go to polymarket.com and sign up. You can connect an existing crypto wallet like MetaMask, or use your email address via Magic link — this creates a non-custodial wallet automatically, no crypto knowledge needed.
2
Deposit USDC
Polymarket uses USDC — a stablecoin worth $1 each. You can buy USDC directly on the platform with a card via Moonpay, or transfer from a crypto exchange like Coinbase. Starting with $50–100 is sensible for your first trades.
3
Find a market and trade
Browse markets on Polymarket directly, or use iPredicta to filter by category, platform, volume, and close date. On any market, click YES or NO, enter your amount, and confirm. You can sell your position at any time before resolution.
Market Coverage

What you can trade on Polymarket

Polymarket covers a wide range of categories. Political and crypto markets tend to have the highest volume and tightest spreads.

Politics
Elections, legislation, leadership
Crypto
BTC, ETH prices, ETF approvals
Sports
Match outcomes, championships
Economics
Fed rates, inflation, GDP data
World Affairs
Geopolitics, international events
Science & Tech
AI milestones, space, climate
Entertainment
Awards, celebrity, culture
Health
Drug approvals, disease trends
Honest Assessment

Polymarket pros & cons

No platform is perfect. Here's what Polymarket does well and where it falls short.

Strengths
  • Highest liquidity of any prediction market — major markets have millions in volume, making it easy to get large orders filled at quoted prices
  • Non-custodial wallet means your funds are never at risk from a platform insolvency or hack
  • Wide market selection — hundreds of active markets across politics, crypto, sports and more
  • No KYC required for most users — sign up with email and start trading in minutes
  • Instant settlement on resolution — winnings hit your wallet immediately, no withdrawal delay
  • Clean, fast interface with real-time order books and price charts for every market
Limitations
  • Not available to US residents — Polymarket's terms of service exclude users in the United States
  • Requires USDC and familiarity with crypto wallets — the on-ramp can feel unfamiliar to new users
  • Unregulated — no FSCS/SIPC protection and no formal dispute route if you disagree with a resolution
  • Resolution disputes can occasionally take days to settle via the UMA oracle process
  • Smaller markets can have wide spreads or low liquidity, making it difficult to trade large sizes
  • Network fees (gas) on Polygon are minimal but add a small overhead to each transaction
Start Trading

Ready to trade on Polymarket?

Join hundreds of thousands of traders on the world's largest prediction market. Sign up in minutes — no crypto experience required if you use the email route.

Start Trading on Polymarket
iPredicta earns a commission when you sign up via this link — at no extra cost to you.

Risk Disclosure

Prediction market trading involves real financial risk. You can lose the full amount you stake. Polymarket is an unregulated platform — there is no regulatory protection for your funds. Information on this page is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always verify Polymarket's availability in your jurisdiction before signing up. iPredicta is not affiliated with Polymarket and earns an affiliate commission on referrals.