How to Use Polymarket: Sign Up, Deposit & Place a Trade
Polymarket lets you trade real money on the probability of real-world events. Each share pays out 1 USDC if the outcome happens and 0 if it does not, so the price is the implied probability. Here is how to start.
- Create an account at Polymarket and verify as required for your region.
- Fund your wallet with USDC (crypto) or via card. Funds sit in your own wallet.
- Browse markets by category (politics, sports, crypto, awards) and open one.
- Pick an outcome. The price shown is the implied probability, for example 42c = 42%.
- Enter your stake and confirm. Your position updates live as the market moves.
- Sell any time before resolution to lock in profit or loss, or hold to settlement.
Understanding the price
The single most important idea on Polymarket is that the price is the probability. A share trading at 42 cents means the market thinks there is a 42% chance of that outcome, and it will pay 1 USDC if it happens. So a 90-cent favorite only returns about 11% if it resolves yes, while a 10-cent long shot pays roughly 10x but rarely lands. Your job is to find prices that are wrong versus your own estimate.
You do not have to hold until the event resolves. Prices move continuously as news arrives, so you can sell early to lock in a profit or cut a loss, exactly like trading any other market.
Common beginner mistakes
Start small while you learn how prices behave. The most common mistakes are overstaking on short-priced favorites for tiny returns, chasing losses, and ignoring the resolution rules of a market. Always read how a market settles before you trade it, and treat your stake as money you can afford to lose.
How do I start using Polymarket?
Create an account, fund it with USDC or a card, open a market, pick an outcome at its current price, and confirm your stake. You can sell any time before the market resolves.
How much money do I need to start?
Very little. There is no large minimum, so you can fund a small amount and place your first trade to learn how prices move before risking more.