Polymarket US access
Last updated · how we verify
Polymarket has been legally available in the US since 2 December 2025, and the iOS waitlist was removed on 12 May 2026. It got there by buying the CFTC-licensed exchange QCEX for $112 million and operating as QCX LLC, a CFTC-designated contract market (DCM) with affiliated derivatives clearing organization (DCO). The gaps: Android is still rolling out, there is no web platform for US users, and 7 states are disputing federal pre-emption in court. The international exchange is a separate venue and blocks US IP addresses.
How the US relaunch happened
Polymarket did not negotiate its way back into the US — it bought a licence. That distinction explains why the relaunch happened as quickly as it did.
- July 2025 — Polymarket acquires the CFTC-licensed exchange and clearinghouse QCEX for $112 million, giving it a designated contract market and a clearing organisation in one transaction.
- September 2025 — the CFTC clears Polymarket to re-enter the US market after a multi-year absence.
- November 2025 — the CFTC issues an Amended Order of Designation permitting intermediated access.
- 2 December 2025 — Polymarket US opens to American traders.
- 12 May 2026 — the iOS waitlist is removed and signup opens to everyone in supported states.
- 1 July 2026 — the Polymarket US fee schedule takes effect.
Source: prnewswire.com, finance.yahoo.com, finance.yahoo.com · verified 17 August 2026
What you can actually use today
| Platform | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| iOS app | Open | Open signup on iOS in supported states since 12 May 2026. |
| Android app | Rolling out | Google Play rollout still gated behind a waitlist framework; an invite code grants immediate access. |
| Web | Not available | No full web trading platform for US users; the US product is app-first. |
If you are used to trading on a desktop with multiple windows, Polymarket US does not yet support that. This is the single biggest functional difference between the US product and the international exchange, and it is worth knowing before you commit.
Source: finance.yahoo.com, next.io, next.io · verified 17 August 2026
More on iOS and Android availability →
US residents: use Polymarket US. The international exchange blocks US IP addresses.
You appear to be in the US. Polymarket’s international exchange blocks US IP addresses — use Polymarket US, the CFTC-regulated exchange, instead. See what’s available in your state.
State-level access
Polymarket US operates under federal CFTC designation, which it argues pre-empts state gambling law. Roughly roughly 43 of 50 states currently have full-menu access.
7 states are actively disputing this in court: Nevada, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, Tennessee, Arizona.
A further group of states has issued cease-and-desist orders without escalating to litigation. The legal argument on both sides:
Operators and the CFTC argue the Commodity Exchange Act gives the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction over federally designated contract markets, pre-empting state gambling statutes. Several district courts have accepted that argument at the preliminary-injunction stage. No final appellate resolution as of August 2026.
SF 4760 makes it a felony to operate, host or advertise a prediction market in Minnesota, and it took effect on 1 August 2026. Four days earlier, on 27 July 2026, a federal judge blocked enforcement. The statute also targets operators, not individual traders. Full detail →
Check all 51 jurisdictions individually →
Source: lines.com, abcnews.com · verified 17 August 2026
The US fee schedule
Polymarket US runs its OWN national fee schedule, separate from the international exchange. Unlike the international venue it does charge a maker fee.
| Component | Value |
|---|---|
| Taker coefficient | 0.06 |
| Maker coefficient | 0.0125 |
| Peak fee per 100 contracts | $1.50 |
| Applies | Nationally |
These figures are corroborated by independent secondary reporting but we could not reach
docs.polymarket.us to confirm them against Polymarket’s own published schedule.
Check the current schedule in the app before sizing a trade. We would rather flag this than
state a fee we have not verified.
Source: docs.polymarket.us · verified 17 August 2026
Compare against the international schedule →
US vs international: the differences that matter
| Polymarket US | International | |
|---|---|---|
| Custody | Intermediated through the DCM/DCO | Non-custodial — your keys |
| Identity | KYC required | Connect a wallet |
| Settles in | USD | USDC (native Polygon USDC) on Polygon PoS |
| Maker fee | Yes — 0.0125 coefficient | $0 — makers are never charged |
| Maker rebates | Not part of the published schedule | 20–25% |
| Web access | No | Yes |
| If it fails | Regulated clearing, CFTC oversight | You hold the assets; no recourse for lost keys |
Neither is strictly better. The US venue trades self-custody for regulatory protection and loses web access; the international venue does the reverse. Full safety comparison →
US access questions
Is Polymarket legal in the US now?
Yes. Polymarket US lists event contracts on QCX LLC, a CFTC-designated contract market (DCM) with affiliated derivatives clearing organization (DCO). It reopened to American traders on 2 December 2025. This is a genuine federal licence, not a workaround.
Do I still need a waitlist invite?
Not on iOS — the waitlist was removed on 12 May 2026. Android is google Play rollout still gated behind a waitlist framework; an invite code grants immediate access.
Can I use Polymarket US in a browser?
No. No full web trading platform for US users; the US product is app-first. If you need desktop access today, that is a real limitation to weigh.
Can I use the international Polymarket from the US?
No. The international exchange geoblocks US IP addresses. Using a VPN to get around it breaches the terms of service and risks your ability to withdraw. Use Polymarket US instead — it is the licensed venue for exactly this purpose.
Is the Minnesota ban in effect?
No. SF 4760 was signed on 18 May 2026 with an effective date of 1 August 2026, but a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction on 27 July 2026 blocking enforcement while the challenge proceeds. Full Minnesota detail.
Do I need to complete KYC?
Yes. Polymarket US is a regulated exchange with an intermediated model, so identity verification is required — unlike the non-custodial international exchange, where you simply connect a wallet.
Next
Legality by state
All 51 jurisdictions with the actual regulator and action.
iOS & Android status
What is shipped, what is gated, and what is missing.
Fee schedules
Both venues, side by side, with worked examples.
Taxes on winnings
How US event-contract gains are generally treated.
All figures on this page verified 17 August 2026 against primary sources where reachable. Unconfirmed values are marked.