How to deposit on Polymarket in 2026: pUSD, USDC and networks explained

Depositing used to be the scariest part of Polymarket for beginners: bridges, the right version of USDC, gas on Polygon. In 2026 most of that happens behind the scenes. You send a supported token to your personal address and the platform does the rest.

What you actually hold: pUSD

Polymarket runs on the Polygon blockchain and uses pUSD (Polymarket USD) as collateral, a token fully backed by USDC. You never have to buy pUSD yourself. According to the docs, all deposits are converted to pUSD automatically, winning shares are redeemed in pUSD, and pUSD can be converted back into USDC.

Three ways to fund your account

• Crypto transfer. The cheapest and most common route: you get a personal deposit address and send a supported token to it.
• Coinbase. Connect your account and move funds from there.
• Card. The easiest option for newcomers, though the card provider takes its own fee.

Step by step: a crypto transfer

1. Sign in and open Deposit.
2. Choose the token and the network you will send from, for example USDC on Polygon, Base, Arbitrum or Solana.
3. Copy your personal deposit address for that network.
4. Send a small test amount first, above the minimum.
5. Wait for confirmation (usually a few minutes) and check that the balance appears.
6. Send the rest.

Minimums and networks

Polymarket accepts deposits from many networks, including Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, BNB Smart Chain, Solana, Bitcoin and Tron. Minimums depend on the network: a few dollars on networks like Polygon, Base or Solana, and more on Ethereum, Bitcoin and Tron, where moving money costs more. Polymarket's own pages disagree on the exact figures (the developer docs list $7 for Ethereum, the help center gives $20 as an example), so check the deposit screen before you send. An amount below the minimum stays pending until your deposits add up to it.

What it costs

Polymarket doesn't list a deposit fee of its own. You may still pay the withdrawal fee of the exchange you send from, network gas and, if you pay by card, the card provider's fee. A direct USDC transfer on a cheap network is usually the best option.

Getting your money out

A withdrawal is the same trip in reverse. In Portfolio, tap Withdraw, paste the recipient address, then choose the token, the amount and the network. Pick a network your exchange accepts for that token and send a small test amount first. Winnings from resolved markets need to be redeemed into your balance before you can withdraw them.

Mistakes that cost money

• Wrong network. Sending on a network you didn't select in the deposit screen is the classic way to lose funds. Match the network on both sides.
• Skipping the test transfer. A $3 test costs you a few cents and can save the whole deposit.
• Phishing sites. Use only polymarket.com, type it yourself or use a bookmark, and never share your seed phrase or private key. Real support never asks for them.
• Depositing savings. Start with an amount you can afford to lose. $20-50 is plenty to learn the mechanics.