Polymarket
Polymarket
The largest on-chain prediction market: bet on the outcome of real-world events (politics, sports, crypto, economy) by buying binary outcome shares settled in stablecoin on Polygon. Non-custodial — funds stay in your wallet — with resolution handled by UMA's optimistic oracle. In 2026 it rolled out a proprietary exchange, the native Polymarket USD stablecoin (1:1 with USDC) and a V2 fee structure with per-category taker fees (zero maker fee, with rebates).
Data & conditions
| Trading fee | 1% |
|---|---|
| Maker fee | Free |
| Fund custody | Self-custody (funds in your control) |
| Market resolution | Optimistic oracle |
| Oracle | UMA Optimistic Oracle |
| Liquidity model | CLOB |
| Market categories | Politics, Sports, Crypto, Economy, Culture/Entertainment, Science/Tech, Weather |
| Leverage available | No |
| Settlement token | Polymarket USD (1:1 USDC) |
| Chains | Polygon |
| Native token | POLY (annunciato) |
| Fiat on-ramp | Yes |
| KYC | No KYC |
| Supported countries | US, EEA, UK, APAC, LATAM, MENA, AFRICA · 150+ countries |
| Segment | B2C |
| MiCA / License status | Protocollo decentralizzato (nessuna licenza diretta)US: entità regolamentata CFTC (exchange upgrade 2026) N/A (on-chain protocol); US under a CFTC-regulated entity since 2026 |
Strengths
- Non-custodial: funds stay in your wallet, no custodial deposit.
- Transparent resolution via UMA optimistic oracle, disputable on-chain.
- Zero maker fee and low taker fees, below Kalshi's take rate.
- Deep liquidity and thousands of markets on real-world events.
- Self-custody: funds stay in your wallet — the platform cannot touch them.
- No KYC: usable without identity verification.
- Funds cannot be frozen: no authority can block your balance.
Weaknesses
- Oracle-based resolution: disputing requires a bond (~750 USDC).
- Historically subject to geo restrictions and regulatory scrutiny.
- No formal fund protection: smart-contract and market risk.
- Subject to regulation (N/A (on-chain protocol); US under a CFTC-regulated entity since 2026): reporting to authorities and freezes on order.
Verdict
For the mainstream user Polymarket remains a speculative tool with no formal protections: no guarantee on funds and a resolution process that, while transparent, requires skill and capital in a dispute (UMA bond). The high score rewards liquidity, competitive fees and on-chain transparency, not consumer protection.
From a crypto-native angle Polymarket excels: non-custodial on Polygon, stablecoin settlement and resolution handled by a verifiable, on-chain-disputable optimistic oracle. No intermediary holds the funds and markets are permissionless; the limit is regulatory scrutiny and geo restrictions that dent its censorship resistance.
Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.
"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.
FAQ
How much does trading on Polymarket cost?
Under the V2 fee structure (2026) makers pay 0% and receive a rebate; takers pay a fee that varies by category (up to about 1%), typically below Kalshi's take rate. On-chain gas fees on Polygon apply on top.
How are markets resolved on Polymarket?
Through UMA's optimistic oracle: a proposed resolution is accepted if not disputed; to dispute it you must post a bond (~750 USDC) and the final decision goes to a vote of UMA token holders.
Is Polymarket custodial?
No. Polymarket is non-custodial: funds stay in your wallet and positions settle on-chain on Polygon in stablecoin (Polymarket USD, backed 1:1 by USDC).
Does Polymarket have a native token?
In 2026 Polymarket introduced the native Polymarket USD stablecoin (1:1 with USDC) for settlement. Check the official site for any governance token and up-to-date details.
Sources
- Official service page Blockchain · Custodial · Settlement Data verified on Jun 23, 2026
- coindesk.com Exchange upgrade · Settlement Data verified on Jun 23, 2026
- help.polymarket.com Settlement token · Taker fees · Maker fees Data verified on Jun 23, 2026
- legacy-docs.polymarket.com Risoluzione tipo · Oracle Data verified on Jun 23, 2026