How to Use Polymarket: Sign-Up, Deposit, First Trade (2026)

Two ways to access Polymarket in 2026

There are two separate Polymarket products. Start by identifying the product you are opening, then check whether your location and account are eligible for that product. A familiar logo or a page that loads is not evidence that you can place an order.

The US track. As of September 18, 2026, QCX LLC, doing business as Polymarket US, operates a CFTC-regulated designated contract market. Its official website has public market pages, so the earlier description of the service as iOS-only is no longer a reliable onboarding instruction. Start at the official Polymarket US website and follow the available sign-up or app path. Do not assume that a public market page proves that trading is available for your account.

As of September 18, 2026, the Polymarket US onboarding documentation requires identity verification before deposits or trading. It describes automatic verification for most users, with government-issued ID and a selfie requested when additional checks are needed. This is different from a requirement that every new user must upload an ID. Check the current product terms and your local rules before funding; the broader context belongs in is arbitrage betting legal.

The global track. As of September 18, 2026, the international product uses non-custodial wallets and pUSD, a USDC-backed token on Polygon. Polymarket's global sign-up instructions describe email, Google, and external-wallet paths without an ID-upload step. That describes the initial flow, not a promise that verification can never be requested. The global help center groups the official sign-up, deposit, and geographic-restriction guidance.

As of September 18, 2026, the developer geoblock document lists the US as close-only on the global frontend and API, while the consumer help page describes the US as restricted. Both rule out opening new global positions from the US. Do not treat the close-only label as a promise about what a particular account can do; ask official support about an existing position. The global terms prohibit using a VPN or similar tool to evade geographic restrictions. A wallet connection does not override those rules.

Creating your account step by step

If you searched how to bet on Polymarket, account setup comes before choosing a market. Polymarket sign-up works differently on the two products. The following steps reflect the official documentation as of September 18, 2026; follow the current prompts if the interface changes.

US track:

1. Open Polymarket US through its official website or the app path it provides. Check that you are using the US product before starting.
2. Sign up with Google or Apple ID, as described in the current onboarding guide, and choose a username.
3. Enter your full name, date of birth, and residential address accurately for Polymarket KYC.
4. Complete any additional identity checks requested, including government ID or a selfie when prompted. Wait for verification before attempting to fund or trade.

Keep account details consistent with your identity documents. If the account is under review, read the in-app message and email for the next step. Avoid submitting conflicting details to make the form proceed. A pending check is a reason to resolve the account issue before planning an order on the other venue.

Global track:

1. Open polymarket.com and choose Sign Up. Use Google, or enter your email and the code sent to it.
2. Alternatively, connect a supported external wallet, such as MetaMask, and read the connection and trading-enablement messages before signing them.
3. Return using the same sign-in method. The documented initial wallet sign-up flow does not include an ID upload, but eligibility restrictions still apply.

Treat access to the sign-in email or connected wallet as access to the account. Never share a login code or private key with someone offering support. Before depositing, make sure you can return to the same account and recognize its wallet details. Account recovery and a market moving in your favor are separate problems; solve the access problem first.

Depositing funds

US track: As of September 18, 2026, the official funding guide lists debit card, ACH bank transfer, and wire transfer. Its walkthrough is Profile, Deposit, then Pay With to choose the method. Deposits must come from accounts in your own name. Check the current amount, limits, and confirmation screen before authorizing a transfer. Buying power credited while a transfer is processing is different from cleared money available for withdrawal.

Global track: As of September 18, 2026, the bridge documentation supports deposits of eligible assets from supported networks, automatically converted to pUSD on Polygon. Native USDC and bridged USDC.e are supported source assets in that documentation; pUSD is the trading collateral. Select the exact asset and network offered by your deposit flow. A token name alone does not establish compatibility with the receiving address.

Read the minimum for the selected asset before sending: the bridge documentation says deposits below its minimum will not be processed. Copy the destination from your own deposit flow, compare it before confirming, and retain the transaction reference. If a deposit has not appeared, check its status and contact official support instead of assuming it failed and sending the same amount again.

For an onboarding-level cost check, consult the official global trading fee page and the separate US product's displayed terms. As of September 18, 2026, the global fee documentation distinguishes venue charges from possible intermediary charges. Do not infer one product's costs from the other product's schedule.

If you are allocating capital to a route, understand how the scanner reads route cost before deciding how much to move. Confirm usable balances on both venues before treating a displayed route as executable. Funding a new account can take longer than a price gap lasts, and available buying power should be checked in the venue itself.

Placing your first trade

Read the market question, resolution source, closing time, and outcome definitions before selecting a side. Similar headlines on two venues can still refer to different contracts. A price comparison only becomes useful after those conditions have been checked.

Example, not a live quote: YES at 44 cents represents an implied probability of roughly 44%. Buying one YES share at that price costs $0.44 before applicable charges. If YES wins under the contract rules, the share redeems for $1; if NO wins, that YES share pays $0. The outcome remains uncertain when you place the order.

Keep a simple record of the market, chosen outcome, quantity, and actual execution price. That makes it easier to compare the position you hold with the position the route requires, especially when the two venues use different labels.

An order is not the same thing as a fill. Review the requested quantity and price, then check the executed quantity in the venue after submitting. An unfilled order does not create the position you planned. If only part fills, size any corresponding trade from the actual position rather than the original request.

You can seek an exit before resolution by selling into available liquidity. For example, a sale at 60 cents would differ from holding the same share to settlement; that price is also illustrative. A buyer must be available at your acceptable price. On the global product, resolution uses the documented UMA process; Polymarket US determines outcomes using the sources and criteria in its exchange rules.

Why arbitrage traders need a Polymarket account

A Polymarket account provides one venue account, while a route may require another account on Kalshi or Opinion. Check which Polymarket product and specific contract the route actually references. Access to Polymarket US does not establish access to a global Polymarket market, and the two accounts are not interchangeable.

ArbLense's arbitrage route scanner shows live route prices and estimated economics. It does not execute either trade or establish your eligibility. Review contract wording, current prices, available size, and both balances yourself. The how to use Kalshi guide covers the sibling account setup.

Browse arbitrage across prediction markets to understand the route structure, then launch the scanner to inspect current opportunities.