How to Use Polymarket: Complete Beginner Guide (December 2025)
Polymarket is the world's largest prediction market with $10+ billion in 2025 trading volume. Whether you want to bet on politics, sports, crypto, or culture, this complete beginner guide covers everything from wallet setup to your first trade—updated for December 2025.
What is Polymarket?
Polymarket is a blockchain-based prediction market where you buy and sell shares tied to the outcomes of future events. Each market has a question like "Will Bitcoin hit $150K in 2025?" with outcomes (usually "Yes" and "No") priced between $0 and $1.
Quick Stats
| 2025 Volume | $10+ billion |
| November 2025 Record | $3.7 billion |
| Blockchain | Polygon (Ethereum L2) |
| Currency | USDC (stablecoin) |
| Founded | 2020 |
How Prediction Markets Work
Price = Probability
- If "Yes" shares trade at $0.72, the market assigns a 72% probability
- Winning shares become worth $1.00 USDC each
- If you bought at $0.72 and win, you profit $0.28 per share
- Losing shares become worth $0.00
Example Trade
- • Market: "Will ETH hit $4K in 2025?"
- • Current Yes price: $0.48 (48% odds)
- • You buy 100 Yes shares for $48
- • If ETH hits $4K: You get $100 (profit: $52)
- • If ETH doesn't: You get $0 (loss: $48)
Getting Started: Step by Step
Option 1: Email Sign-Up (Easiest)
- Go to polymarket.com
- Click "Sign Up"
- Enter your email address
- Deposit via credit card or bank transfer
- Start trading immediately
Option 2: Wallet Connection (Crypto Users)
- Get a wallet: MetaMask, Phantom, or Trust Wallet
- Buy USDC: On any exchange (Coinbase, Kraken, etc.)
- Bridge to Polygon: For ~$0.01 transaction fees
- Connect wallet: Click "Connect Wallet" on Polymarket
- Deposit USDC: Small relayer fee (~0.3%)
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Order Types Explained
Market Orders
- Execute immediately at current best price
- Best for quick entry/exit
- May experience slippage in thin markets
Limit Orders
- Set your price—only executes when market reaches it
- Best for patient traders who want specific entry
- No slippage—get exactly the price you want
- May never fill if market doesn't reach your price
Fees on Polymarket
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Trading fees | 0% |
| Profit cut (on wins) | 2% |
| Polygon gas fees | ~$0.01 |
| Deposit relayer fee | ~0.3% |
| On-ramp fees (card/bank) | Varies by provider |
Common Beginner Mistakes
Avoid These Errors
- 1. Buying at 90¢: Little room for profit—shares resolve at $1
- 2. Not reading resolution rules: Always check how market settles
- 3. Ignoring liquidity: Thin markets have wider spreads
- 4. Emotional trading: Stick to your strategy
- 5. Over-sizing positions: Never risk more than you can lose
- 6. Ignoring taxes: All profits are taxable—even without 1099
Market Categories
| Category | Examples | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Politics | Elections, cabinet picks | $3.7B+ (2024 election) |
| Sports | Super Bowl, NBA, NFL | $615M+ (SB alone) |
| Crypto | BTC price, ETH, altcoins | $90M+ (BTC 2025) |
| Finance | Fed rates, recession | $28M+ (rate cuts) |
| Culture | Movies, Google trends | $88M+ (movies) |
US Access (December 2025)
Polymarket Returns to US
After acquiring QCEX and receiving a CFTC no-action letter, Polymarket relaunched in the US in November 2025:
- • Waitlist system: Invite codes rolling out
- • Sports first: NFL, NBA, college sports
- • Full markets coming: Politics, finance, culture in 2026
- • NHL partnership: Official prediction market of NHL
Tips for Success
Research First
- Only trade markets you understand
- Check official resolution sources
- Read market description carefully
- Verify settlement criteria
Start Small
- Begin with $10-50 to learn
- Paper-trade strategies first
- Scale only what works
- Never bet more than you can afford to lose
Follow Smart Money
- Watch whale movements
- Track top traders
- Use Telegram bots for alerts
- Don't blindly copy—understand why
Key Takeaways
- Polymarket is the world's largest prediction market ($10B+ 2025 volume)
- Share prices reflect probability—$0.72 = 72% chance
- Winning shares pay $1.00; losing shares pay $0
- 0% trading fees, 2% cut on profits
- Email sign-up for beginners, wallet for crypto users
- US access via waitlist—sports markets live, more coming
- Start with $10-50 to learn before scaling
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Frequently Asked Questions
Two options: (1) Email sign-up with credit card/bank deposit, or (2) Connect crypto wallet with USDC on Polygon. Start with $10-50 to learn.
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