Polymarket US launch: what traders need to know
Polymarket does not offer the same self-service trading experience to US retail users on polymarket.com. The platform runs on Polygon, uses pUSD for settlement, and offers a separate CFTC-regulated pathway for US orders that requires KYC. If you want to arbitrage on Polymarket from the US, understand the regulatory route and technical setup before trading.
Availability and the US regulatory route
Polymarket blocks new orders from US users on its public site; a distinct CFTC-regulated pathway exists for US trading and requires KYC. That pathway is separate from the Polygon-based markets most international traders use. If you’re in the US, check Polymarket’s official guidance for the exact onboarding flow and KYC requirements before attempting to trade.
How Polymarket markets and settlement work
Polymarket runs on Polygon and settles in pUSD (a wrapped USDC). Markets are implemented with Gnosis’s CTF and resolved via the UMA optimistic oracle. Outcomes are ERC-1155 tokens you can split, merge, and redeem; understanding CTF flows is essential for programmatic trading and arbitrage.
What this means for arbitrage strategies
Intra-market arbitrage (buying a complete set when Σ best asks < $1.00) is available on Polymarket’s CLOB for non-restricted users. Geo restrictions mean US-based traders must use the CFTC pathway to access order placement. Always account for fees, tick size, slippage, UMA resolution risk, and settlement timing when calculating edge.
How PolyArb fits in
PolyArb is a non-custodial arbitrage bot built for Polymarket markets: $99/month, 40ms latency versus ~800ms for common free bots, Telegram and Discord alerts, and a $7.62 minimum guaranteed edge per captured trade. It automates detection and execution of intra-market binary and combinatorial opportunities while surfacing the operational risks.
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FAQ
- Is Polymarket available to US users?
- Polymarket’s public site blocks new US orders. A separate CFTC-regulated pathway exists for US trading that requires KYC; consult Polymarket’s official resources for enrollment details.
- Can I use PolyArb from the US?
- You can use PolyArb only in ways that comply with Polymarket’s access rules. If you access order placement via Polymarket’s CFTC pathway and complete required KYC, programmatic trading is possible; verify compliance before trading.
- Does Polymarket charge gas or maker fees?
- Polymarket sponsors gas via its Relayer, and maker fees are zero. Taker fees vary by category (0%–1.8%). Always include taker fees when sizing arbitrage.
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