Polymarket operates on the Polygon blockchain. As of 2026, it is accessible globally but US users face restrictions. Always check local regulations before trading.

What is the minimum deposit on Polymarket?

There is no strict minimum deposit. You can start trading with as little as $1 worth of USDC, though deposits below $10 may not be practical due to gas fees.

Does Polymarket charge fees?

Polymarket charges no trading fees for makers and a small fee for takers. There are no deposit or withdrawal fees from Polymarket itself, though the blockchain network charges small gas fees.

How do I withdraw money from Polymarket?

Navigate to your Portfolio, click Withdraw, choose your preferred method (crypto wallet or bank), enter the amount, and confirm. Withdrawals typically process within minutes for crypto and 1-3 business days for bank transfers.

Can I lose more than I invest on Polymarket?

No. On Polymarket, the maximum you can lose on any trade is the amount you invested. Contracts trade between $0 and $1, so your risk is always limited to your position size.

Home › Guides › How to Trade on Polymarket

How to Trade on Polymarket: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Updated March 2026 · 8 min read

Quick Summary

Polymarket is the world’s largest prediction market, with billions in trading volume across politics, crypto, sports, and current events. You buy “shares” that pay out $1 if your prediction is correct and $0 if wrong. This guide walks you through everything from account creation to placing your first trade.

What You Need Before Starting

An email address or a crypto wallet (MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, etc.)
Funds to deposit (USDC cryptocurrency, credit card, or bank transfer)
Basic understanding of probability — a 70¢ contract means 70% chance (see our beginner guide)

Step-by-Step: Your First Polymarket Trade

Create Your Polymarket Account

Visit polymarket.com and click “Sign Up.” You have two options:

Email signup — Polymarket creates a wallet for you automatically. Easiest for beginners.
Connect wallet — Link an existing crypto wallet like MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet. Better for experienced crypto users.

Tip: Email signup is the fastest way to start. You can always connect a crypto wallet later if you want more control over your funds.

Deposit Funds

Polymarket runs on USDC (a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the US dollar) on the Polygon network. You can fund your account several ways:

Method	Speed	Fees	Best For
Credit/Debit Card	Instant	~3-5%	Small first deposits
Bank Transfer (ACH)	1-3 days	Low	Larger deposits
Crypto Transfer	Minutes	Gas only	Crypto users
Bridge from Ethereum	5-15 min	Gas fees	ETH holders

Note: If you’re new to crypto, the credit card option through MoonPay is the simplest. The fees are higher but you’ll be trading in under 2 minutes.

Find a Market to Trade

Browse Polymarket’s markets by category (Politics, Crypto, Sports, etc.) or use the search bar. Here’s what to look for:

Volume — Higher volume = more liquidity = easier to buy and sell
Time to resolution — When does this market resolve? Shorter timeframes give faster results.
Your edge — Do you have knowledge or research that suggests the market price is wrong?

You can also check PredScope’s live odds tracker to find trending markets and compare odds across platforms.

Place Your First Trade

Once you’ve found a market:

Click on the market to open it
Choose Yes or No — this is your prediction
Enter the amount you want to trade (start small, e.g. $5-10)
Review the potential payout shown — this is what you’ll receive if correct
Click Confirm to place the trade

Example: You see “Will the Fed cut rates in June 2026?” trading at 72¢. You believe rates will be cut, so you buy 10 “Yes” shares at 72¢ each ($7.20 total). If the Fed does cut, you get $10 back — a profit of $2.80 (39% return). If not, you lose $7.20.

Monitor & Manage Your Positions

After trading, track your positions in the Portfolio tab. Key things to know:

You can sell anytime — You don’t have to hold until the market resolves. If your shares go up in value, you can take profit early.
Prices change constantly — As new information comes in, market prices shift. This creates trading opportunities.
Resolution is automatic — When the event outcome is known, Polymarket resolves the market and winning shares pay out $1.

Understanding Polymarket Fees

Fee Type	Amount	Details
Trading (Maker)	0%	No fees when you set limit orders
Trading (Taker)	Small	Variable fee on market orders
Deposit	Varies	Depends on deposit method (see table above)
Withdrawal	Gas only	Polygon network gas fees (usually < $0.01)

Polymarket’s fee structure is one of the most competitive in the prediction market space. See our Polymarket vs Kalshi comparison for a detailed fee breakdown.

Trading Strategies for Beginners

1. Event-Driven Trading

Trade based on upcoming events you know well. If you follow politics closely, you may spot mispriced election markets. If you follow tech, you may have insights into product launch timelines.

2. Buy the Dip

When a market overreacts to news, prices can swing too far. If you believe the panic is overdone, buying shares at a discount can be profitable when prices normalize.

3. Arbitrage

Sometimes identical events are priced differently across platforms (Polymarket, Kalshi, etc.). Buying on the cheaper platform and selling on the more expensive one locks in risk-free profit. Use our calculator to spot these opportunities.

4. Portfolio Diversification

Don’t put all your funds into one market. Spread across different events and categories to reduce risk. Even if one prediction is wrong, others may pay off.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Trading too much too fast — Start with small amounts until you understand how the platform works
Ignoring liquidity — Low-volume markets can have wide spreads, making it expensive to enter and exit
Emotional trading — Stick to your analysis rather than chasing price movements
Not setting limits — Decide how much you’re willing to risk before you start trading
Overlooking resolution criteria — Always read how a market resolves. Ambiguous resolution criteria can lead to unexpected outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Polymarket legal?

Polymarket operates on the Polygon blockchain and is accessible globally. However, US residents face restrictions. Always check your local regulations before trading. See our alternatives page for regulated US options like Kalshi.

What is the minimum deposit?

There’s no strict minimum. You can trade with as little as $1 in USDC. However, deposits under $10 may not be practical due to on-ramp fees when using credit cards.

Can I lose more than I invest?

No. The maximum you can lose on any Polymarket trade is the amount you paid. Contracts trade between $0 and $1, so your risk is always capped at your position size.

How do I withdraw money?

Go to Portfolio → Withdraw → choose crypto wallet or bank transfer → enter amount → confirm. Crypto withdrawals process in minutes; bank transfers take 1-3 business days.

How does Polymarket make money?

Polymarket earns revenue through taker fees on trades. The platform does not trade against users or take positions in markets.

Ready to start trading?

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