Polymarket's deposit system changed in 2026. Balances on polymarket.com are now held as pUSD, a dollar token on Polygon backed 1:1 by USDC, and Polymarket accepts crypto from 15 networks and converts it for you. This reference covers every deposit method, every supported chain and its minimum, the fees, the timing and the reasons a deposit gets blocked, checked against Polymarket's help center, developer docs and live bridge data on September 23, 2026.
Quick answer (checked September 23, 2026):
- Main method: Deposit, then Transfer Crypto. Send USDC, USDT, ETH, SOL, BTC or another listed token from one of 15 networks, including Polygon, Base, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana, BNB Smart Chain and Tron. It arrives in your balance as pUSD on Polygon.
- Minimums: $2 on most networks, $3 on Ethereum and $3.60 on Bitcoin in Polymarket's live bridge data. The deposit screen shows the minimum that applies, and a smaller deposit stays pending.
- Fees: Polymarket charges no deposit fee. Converting to pUSD cost about 0.03% for USDC and about 0.3% for USDT in quotes we pulled, plus your wallet or exchange's network fee.
- Card or exchange account: where offered, card purchases run through MoonPay and exchange funding through providers such as Coinbase, which charge their own fees.
- United States: polymarket.com does not accept deposits from US residents. Polymarket directs them to the separate Polymarket US app, which is funded in dollars by debit card, bank transfer (ACH) or wire.
For the click-by-click USDC walkthrough, use How to Fund Polymarket with USDC. If your real question is whether Polymarket works in your country at all, start with Polymarket Countries and Availability.
Polymarket Deposit Methods at a Glance
| Method | Who it is for | What you send | Typical speed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer Crypto (polymarket.com) | Anyone outside restricted countries who holds crypto in a wallet or on an exchange | Any of 235 listed token and network combinations on 15 networks | Minutes after the sending network confirms | No Polymarket fee; small conversion cost; sender's network fee |
| Card or exchange account (where offered) | People starting from a bank card or an exchange balance | Card purchase processed by MoonPay, or funding through an exchange provider such as Coinbase | Depends on the provider | The provider's own fees |
| Polymarket US app | US residents only | US dollars by debit card, ACH or wire | Card and ACH clear in 3 to 4 business days; wire about 1 business day | Separate account; no crypto deposits |
Transfer Crypto is the method Polymarket's help center documents step by step: click Deposit, choose Transfer Crypto, pick the token and network, copy your deposit address and send at least the minimum. Each account has a fixed deposit address, and the address for Solana or Bitcoin can differ from the one for Polygon and the other EVM networks, so always copy it after choosing the network.
Card and exchange options depend on where you are. MoonPay announced in July 2024 that Polymarket users can buy crypto through it with cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and bank transfer, and Polymarket's fee page (updated July 2026) still names MoonPay and Coinbase as intermediaries that may charge their own fees. If you do not see these options, Transfer Crypto from an exchange or wallet is the route that works everywhere Polymarket is available. Every route ends the same way, as pUSD in your Polymarket balance on Polygon.
Supported Chains, Tokens and Minimums
Polymarket's bridge API, which handles cross-chain deposits and withdrawals, listed these 15 networks and 235 token and network combinations on September 23, 2026:
| Network | Tokens accepted (examples) | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Polygon | USDC, USDC.e, USDT, POL, pUSD | $2 |
| Base | USDC, ETH, USDT, cbBTC | $2 |
| Ethereum | USDC, USDT, ETH, DAI, WBTC (79 tokens) | $3 (help center example: $20) |
| Arbitrum | USDC, USDC.e, ETH, USDT, ARB | $2 |
| Optimism | USDC, ETH, USDT, OP | $2 |
| BNB Smart Chain | USDT, USDC, BNB, ETH | $2 |
| Solana | USDC, USDT, SOL | $2 (help center example: $3) |
| Tron | USDT, TRX | $2 |
| Bitcoin | BTC | $3.60 |
| Bitcoin Lightning | BTC | $2 |
| HyperEVM | HYPE, USDC, USDe | $2 |
| HyperCore | USDC | $2 |
| Monad | MON, USDC, AUSD | $2 |
| Ink | ETH, USDC, USDT0 | $2 |
| Robinhood Chain | ETH, USDG, USDe | $2 |
Three things to know before you rely on this table:
- Polymarket's own sources disagree on minimums. Its help center gives $20 for Ethereum and $3 for Solana as examples, and its developer docs table shows older values ($7 for Ethereum, $9 for Bitcoin and Tron). The minimum shown on your deposit screen is the one that applies. According to the help center, a deposit below it stays pending until your cumulative amount reaches the minimum.
- The list changes. Polymarket's docs say supported assets change over time. The developer docs table still lists Abstract, Ethereal, Katana and Lighter, which the live data did not include on September 23, 2026. If a network is not offered on your deposit screen, do not send on it.
- Only send listed tokens. Polymarket's docs warn that sending an unsupported token may cause irrecoverable loss.
What Is pUSD and What Happened to USDC.e?
On April 28, 2026, Polymarket upgraded its exchange contracts and order book and switched its collateral token from USDC.e (bridged USDC on Polygon) to pUSD (Polymarket USD).
- What pUSD is: a standard ERC-20 token on Polygon, backed 1:1 by USDC, with the backing enforced onchain by the smart contract. Polymarket's docs say there are no current plans to list it on external exchanges.
- What it means for deposits: you do not buy pUSD. You send USDC, USDC.e or another listed token, and it is converted to pUSD automatically. USDC.e on Polygon converts 1:1.
- Existing balances: returning users signed a one-time prompt that converted their balance to pUSD at 1:1 with no fee.
- Withdrawals: pUSD is converted back to USDC, or bridged to another supported token and network, when you withdraw. See How to Withdraw from Polymarket for the cash-out side.
In Polymarket's own words, "Day to day, nothing changes." The practical correction: older guides that tell you to end up with "USDC.e on Polygon" are out of date, because Polymarket now converts whatever you send into pUSD for you.
Polymarket Deposit Fees
Polymarket's fee page says there are no Polymarket fees to deposit or withdraw, though intermediaries like Coinbase or MoonPay may charge their own. Its April 2026 upgrade notice adds that deposits and withdrawals may carry conversion or routing costs. Here is what that looked like in quotes we requested from Polymarket's bridge API on September 23, 2026:
| You send $100 of | Estimated pUSD received |
|---|---|
| USDC.e on Polygon | 100.00 |
| USDC on Polygon or Base | 99.97 |
| USDC on Arbitrum, Ethereum or Solana | 99.96 |
| USDT on Tron or BNB Smart Chain | 99.70 |
Quotes are estimates, but the pattern holds: USDC is the cheapest thing to send, and USDC.e on Polygon converts 1:1. Your wallet or exchange also charges its own fee to send, usually more on Ethereum mainnet than on Polygon, Base or Arbitrum.
For deposits over $50,000 from a chain other than Polygon, Polymarket's docs recommend a third-party bridge such as deBridge, Across or Portal to reduce slippage. How to Bridge USDC to Polygon for Polymarket covers that manual route. For trading fees once you are funded, see Polymarket Fees Explained.
How Long Polymarket Deposits Take
- Crypto transfers: usually minutes. After the sending network confirms, Polymarket's bridge quotes estimated about 27 seconds to convert USDC or USDT into pUSD, and its docs say transfers typically complete within a few minutes but can take longer when networks are busy. Bitcoin deposits also wait for Bitcoin network confirmations. Refresh the page once the transaction confirms.
- If nothing shows after 10 minutes: Polymarket's help center says to check the transaction on a block explorer, confirm you sent the right token on the right network and above the minimum, refresh or log out and back in, then contact support with the transaction hash.
- A "pending" deposit: most often the amount was below the minimum for that route. It stays pending until the cumulative amount reaches the minimum.
- Polymarket US: debit card and ACH deposits take 3 to 4 business days to fully clear, with instant buying power while they process. Wires take about 1 business day.
Why Can't I Deposit on Polymarket?
These are the causes behind almost every "cannot deposit" search, in the order to check them:
- Your location is restricted. Polymarket restricts access in a list of countries and regions that, per its help center (updated August 2026), includes the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Brazil, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta. In these places you cannot open new positions, and Polymarket's own examples (US residents and users in Ontario) say you cannot deposit either. In some of them you can still close existing positions and withdraw. Access follows your physical location, not your residency. Polymarket prohibits using a VPN to get around these rules (Terms of Service, Section 2.1.4), and its help center gives no date for lifting any restriction. Check the full list in Polymarket Countries and Availability or our prediction market availability by country page.
- The amount is below the minimum. The deposit shows as pending until your total on that route reaches the minimum.
- The network or token does not match. The network you pick on Polymarket must be the network your wallet or exchange sends on. A token outside the supported list may be lost for good.
- You sent to your profile address instead of the deposit address. Your profile address is the Polygon wallet behind your account; the deposit address is the one shown under Deposit, then Transfer Crypto. Tokens sent to the profile address may need Polymarket's recovery tool at recovery.polymarket.com, and not every case is recoverable.
- Your exchange held or refused the withdrawal. If Coinbase, Binance or another exchange blocks or delays the send, that decision sits with the exchange, so check its help pages or support.
- The bridge is delayed or holding the transfer. Polymarket's docs direct failed, stuck or compliance-held bridge transfers to its bridge provider's support, and Polymarket support can help identify the transaction.
Depositing from the US: Polymarket US
Polymarket's help center is explicit: polymarket.com is not accessible to US residents, and US users cannot deposit funds or place trades on the website. It directs US residents to the separate Polymarket US app, which has its own account, requires identity verification (KYC) before any deposit, and operates in partnership with a CFTC-regulated exchange.
Polymarket US is funded in dollars, not crypto:
| Method | Limits | Time to clear |
|---|---|---|
| Debit card | $25,000 per transaction, $50,000 per day | 3 to 4 business days, with instant buying power |
| Bank transfer (ACH, via Aeropay) | $25,000 per transaction, $50,000 per day | 3 to 4 business days, with instant buying power |
| Wire transfer | $1,000 minimum, no maximum | About 1 business day |
Card and ACH deposits are also capped at $2,000,000 over a rolling 60 days. Deposits must come from accounts in your own name, and withdrawals return to the original funding source. For the legal background, see Is Polymarket Legal in the US?.
How to Choose the Right Deposit Route
Match the route to where your money starts:
- USDC or USDC.e already on Polygon: send on Polygon. USDC.e converts 1:1 and USDC costs a fraction of a cent per dollar.
- USDC on an exchange: withdraw it on a low-cost network that both the exchange and Polymarket's deposit screen offer, such as Polygon, Base, Arbitrum or Solana. The step-by-step version is in How to Fund Polymarket with USDC.
- USDT: it is accepted on Tron, BNB Smart Chain, Ethereum and other networks, but USDT from Tron or BNB Smart Chain cost about 0.3% to convert in our quotes, roughly ten times the cost of USDC.
- ETH, SOL, BTC or other listed tokens: you can send them directly and they are converted to pUSD, but check the minimum for that network first.
- Starting from a bank card: use the card option if your deposit screen offers it, and expect the card provider's fees.
- $50,000 or more from another chain: follow Polymarket's recommendation to use a third-party bridge.
- In the United States: use the Polymarket US app instead of polymarket.com.
Before the first deposit, send a small test above the minimum and confirm it lands. It also helps to check live Polymarket odds on CoinRithm and compare prices across venues first. If you would rather rehearse, CoinRithm's paper trading uses virtual funds only, and you can let an AI agent paper trade prediction markets before any real money moves elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What deposit methods does Polymarket accept?
Polymarket's main method is Transfer Crypto: you send a supported token to your personal deposit address and it is converted to pUSD on Polygon. Depending on your location, the deposit screen can also offer a card purchase through MoonPay or funding through an exchange provider such as Coinbase, which charge their own fees. US residents cannot deposit on polymarket.com and use the Polymarket US app, funded by debit card, ACH or wire.
Does Polymarket accept USDC?
Yes. Polymarket accepts USDC on the major networks it supports, including Polygon, Base, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism and Solana, plus bridged USDC.e on Polygon. Whatever you send is converted automatically into pUSD, the dollar token backed 1:1 by USDC that Polymarket has used for all balances since April 28, 2026. USDC.e on Polygon converts 1:1, and native USDC cost about 0.03% to convert in September 2026 quotes.
Can you deposit to Polymarket on the Base network?
Yes. Base was one of the 15 networks Polymarket's bridge accepted on September 23, 2026, with a $2 minimum. You can send USDC, ETH, USDT and other listed Base tokens to the deposit address shown after you pick Base on the deposit screen. The funds are converted to pUSD on Polygon, usually within minutes. Make sure your exchange or wallet is also sending on Base, not on Ethereum.
What is the minimum deposit on Polymarket?
It depends on the network. Polymarket's live bridge data on September 23, 2026 listed $2 for most networks, $3 for Ethereum and $3.60 for Bitcoin, while its help center gives $20 for Ethereum and $3 for Solana as examples. Treat the figure on your deposit screen as the real minimum. According to the help center, a smaller deposit stays pending until your cumulative amount reaches that minimum.
Does Polymarket charge a deposit fee?
No. Polymarket's fee page says there are no Polymarket fees to deposit or withdraw, although intermediaries such as Coinbase or MoonPay may charge their own. Converting what you send into pUSD can carry a small routing cost: in September 2026 quotes, $100 of USDC arrived as about $99.96 to $99.97 of pUSD and $100 of USDT as about $99.70. Your wallet or exchange also charges its normal network fee.
How long does a Polymarket deposit take?
Usually minutes. Once the sending network confirms your transaction, Polymarket's bridge quotes estimated about 27 seconds to convert USDC or USDT into pUSD, and its docs say transfers typically complete within a few minutes. Refresh the page after confirmation. If nothing appears after 10 minutes, check the transaction on a block explorer, confirm the token, network and minimum, then contact Polymarket support with the transaction hash.
Why does Polymarket say depositing is not available in my region?
Because Polymarket restricts access where you are physically located. Its restricted list includes the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy and four Canadian provinces. There you cannot open new positions, and its US and Ontario examples say you cannot deposit either, though in some places you can still close positions and withdraw. The help center gives no date for lifting restrictions, and using a VPN to bypass them violates the Terms of Service.
What is pUSD on Polymarket?
pUSD, or Polymarket USD, is the collateral token Polymarket switched to on April 28, 2026, replacing bridged USDC.e. It is a standard token on Polygon backed 1:1 by USDC, with the backing enforced by a smart contract. You do not need to buy it: deposits are converted to pUSD automatically, and withdrawals convert it back to USDC or another supported token. Polymarket has no current plans to list pUSD on external exchanges.
Can I deposit on Polymarket from the United States?
Not on polymarket.com. Polymarket's help center says US residents cannot deposit or trade on the website and must use the separate Polymarket US app. That app is funded in US dollars rather than crypto: debit card or ACH bank transfer up to $50,000 per day, or a wire transfer from $1,000. Card and ACH deposits take 3 to 4 business days to clear, with instant buying power meanwhile.
How do I move money from Polymarket to Coinbase?
That is a withdrawal, not a deposit. In your Polymarket portfolio, choose Withdraw, paste your Coinbase deposit address, and pick the token and a network Coinbase supports for it. Polymarket converts pUSD back to USDC and charges no withdrawal fee. Send a small test first and match the network on both sides. Our guide on how to withdraw from Polymarket covers timing and bank cash-outs.
Conclusion
Polymarket deposits come down to one end state: pUSD in your Polymarket balance on Polygon. Everything else is route choice:
- crypto from 15 networks through Transfer Crypto, with no Polymarket fee
- card or exchange providers where offered, with their own fees
- dollars through the Polymarket US app if you live in the United States
Check the minimum on your deposit screen, send a small test first, and make sure your location is not the real blocker before you troubleshoot anything else. For the exact clicks, continue with How to Fund Polymarket with USDC.
Last Updated: September 23, 2026
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice. Deposit methods, supported chains, minimums and regional rules change, and figures here come from Polymarket's help center, docs and bridge data as checked on September 23, 2026. Always confirm the current details on your Polymarket deposit screen before sending funds. CoinRithm offers paper trading only and does not handle real-money deposits or trades.
