Polymarket US explained
Polymarket US is a separate, CFTC-regulated exchange for US residents. It launched in December 2025, opened without a waitlist on iPhone in May 2026, requires full identity verification and is funded in US dollars.
Quick facts · verified 20 October 2026
- Does Polymarket US require KYC?
- Yes. Polymarket US is a CFTC-regulated exchange and requires full identity verification before trading.
- Can US residents use the international Polymarket site?
- No. Polymarket lists the United States as close-only (no new positions) (checked 20 October 2026).
- When did Polymarket US launch?
- The app launched to waitlisted users in December 2025; the waitlist was removed for iPhone users in May 2026.
How Polymarket came back to the US
In 2022 Polymarket settled with the CFTC and blocked US users. In 2025 it bought QCEX, a CFTC-licensed exchange and clearinghouse, received regulatory approval in the autumn, and launched the Polymarket US app in December 2025 to users on a waitlist. The waitlist was removed for iPhone users in May 2026.
How it differs from international Polymarket
| Polymarket US | International | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | US residents | Non-restricted countries |
| Identity checks | Full KYC | Email or wallet sign-up |
| Money | US dollars | Crypto → pUSD |
| Markets | Regulated event contracts; narrower | Full catalogue |
| Fees | Mostly one taker rate (θ = 0.0695, about $1.74 per 100 contracts at 50¢), with exceptions such as table tennis and combos; makers pay no fee | Category-based taker fees, 0–0.07 |
| Resolution | Settled by the exchange from the source in each contract's rules; final | UMA Optimistic Oracle, with token-holder disputes |
State-level fights
Federal regulation does not settle everything. Several states have challenged prediction markets as unlicensed gambling, particularly sports contracts. Nevada has a court order keeping Polymarket US out, and New York's governor and attorney general sued its operator in September 2026. Availability of some contracts can differ by state.
US residents should use Polymarket US. The international site is restricted for US users, and using it from the US breaks its terms.
Ready to try it? Check it is available where you live, then open Polymarket.
Open PolymarketFrequently asked questions
Is Polymarket US the same as Polymarket?
Same company and brand, but a separate regulated exchange with its own accounts, funding and market list.
Does Polymarket US need ID?
Yes, it requires full identity verification.