What is Polymarket?
An introduction to the world's largest prediction market and why it matters.
Polymarket is the world's largest prediction market. It allows you to trade on the outcome of future events — from politics and current affairs to crypto prices and pop culture.
Unlike traditional betting sites, Polymarket is a transparent, decentralized financial exchange where market prices reflect the real-time probability of an event occurring.
Why Use Polymarket?
1. Unbiased Information ("The Source of Truth")
News headlines can be sensationalized, and pundits can be biased. Money, however, tends to be honest.
- If a candidate's shares are trading at 60¢, the market believes there is a 60% chance they will win.
- This "crowd wisdom" has historically proven to be more accurate than polls or expert predictions.
2. Profit from Your Knowledge
If you believe the market is wrong — for example, if you think a candidate has an 80% chance of winning but the market only prices them at 60¢ — you can buy shares to capture that value. If you are right, you profit.
3. Hedge Real-World Risks
You can use Polymarket to protect yourself against adverse outcomes.
- Example: If your business relies on Crypto staying legal in a certain country, you could bet on "Crypto Ban" to offset potential business losses if that ban actually happens.
How It Works (The Basics)
Polymarket operates on the Polygon blockchain, ensuring:
- Non-Custodial: You hold your own funds.
- Transparent: All transactions and rules are visible on-chain.
- Low Fees: Trading costs are minimal compared to traditional platforms.
Everything is priced between $0.00 and $1.00.
- If the event happens (Resolution: YES), shares redeem for $1.00.
- If the event does not happen (Resolution: NO), shares redeem for $0.00.
Ready to start?
You don't need to be a crypto expert. You can sign up with just an email address on Polymarket.