How to Create a Polymarket Account (Step-by-Step Guide)

Chapter 2 of 33

Three Ways to Sign Up

Polymarket offers three sign-up methods. Each creates a different type of wallet behind the scenes, which affects your security and recovery options. Choose based on your comfort level:

The Polymarket sign-up screen - choose Email, Google, Apple, or Connect Wallet.

Method 1: Sign Up with Email (Recommended for Beginners)

1. Go to polymarket.com
2. Click "Sign Up" in the top right
3. Enter your email address
4. Check your inbox for a magic link - a secure, passwordless login link powered by Magic Labs
5. Click the magic link - you're in

Polymarket automatically deploys a proxy wallet (a lightweight smart contract on Polygon) the first time you log in. You don't need MetaMask, don't need to understand blockchain, and don't pay any gas fees - ever. Polymarket's relayer covers all transaction costs.

The magic link email - click the button to log in instantly. No password needed.

Method 2: Sign Up with Google or Apple (Fastest)

1. Go to polymarket.com
2. Click "Sign Up"
3. Select "Continue with Google" or "Continue with Apple"
4. Authorize the connection
5. Done - you're logged in immediately

This is the fastest path from zero to trading. Behind the scenes, it creates the same POLY_PROXY wallet as email signup, managed by Magic Labs. You can connect a crypto wallet later if you want more control.

Method 3: Sign Up with a Crypto Wallet (Most Secure)

If you already have a Web3 wallet, this method gives you the most security and control:

1. Go to polymarket.com
2. Click "Sign Up"
3. Select "Connect Wallet"
4. Choose your wallet: MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, Rainbow, Rabby, or any WalletConnect-compatible wallet
5. Approve the connection in your wallet
6. Sign the login message (this is free - no gas cost, no fund movement)

Instead of a POLY_PROXY wallet, Polymarket deploys a modified Gnosis Safe (now called Safe) - a 1-of-1 multisig where your connected wallet is the sole signer. This means:

• You have full self-custody from day one
• Your private key never leaves your wallet
• No third-party (Magic Labs) holds or manages your keys
• If Polymarket.com goes offline, you can interact directly with the smart contracts

Connect your existing Web3 wallet - MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, Rainbow, Rabby, or any WalletConnect wallet.

Recommendation after the December 2025 breach: Many experienced traders switched from email/Google login to browser wallet login (MetaMask or Rabby) for enhanced security. If you're comfortable with crypto wallets, this is the safest option.

Understanding Your Wallet

When you sign up, Polymarket creates a smart contract wallet for you on the Polygon PoS blockchain. Understanding how this works protects you.

Two Wallet Types

Your portfolio shows your wallet balance and proxy wallet address. All funds are held on-chain - not by Polymarket.

Gasless Trading

Regardless of which method you choose, you never pay gas fees. Polymarket operates a Gas Station Network (GSN)-style relayer that sponsors all on-chain transactions:

1. You create and sign a transaction locally
2. The signed payload goes to Polymarket's relayer
3. The relayer submits it on-chain and pays the gas in POL
4. The transaction executes from your wallet

This covers wallet deployment, token approvals, trading, and withdrawals. In 2024, Polymarket's total gas expenditure through their relayer was approximately $27,000 - a tiny cost enabling millions of gasless user transactions.

Your Funds Are Non-Custodial

This is critical to understand: Polymarket cannot access, move, or seize your funds. Your USDC positions and outcome tokens (ERC-1155) live in a smart contract that only your wallet key can control.

Even if Polymarket.com goes offline tomorrow:

• Your funds remain in your on-chain wallet on Polygon
• You can access them via PolygonScan or any block explorer
• You can import your private key into MetaMask and interact with the contracts directly
• Resolved markets can be redeemed from the Conditional Tokens contract

The official wallet recovery tool is available at recovery.polymarket.com.

KYC (Identity Verification)

International Users (Outside the US)

Minimal verification is required. You can sign up and start trading immediately with just an email or Google account. Identity verification is only triggered:

• At high-volume deposit thresholds
• If the platform detects suspicious activity
• For compliance with specific regional regulations

US Users (Polymarket US - Regulated DCM)

The US platform (polymarket.us) launched in December 2025 as a CFTC-regulated Designated Contract Market after Polymarket acquired the QCEX exchange license for $112 million in July 2025.

Full KYC is required before any deposits or trades:

• Government-issued ID - passport, driver's license, or state ID
• Live selfie - facial matching against your ID
• Proof of address - in some cases
• Age verification - must be 18+

The verification process typically takes a few minutes to a few hours. The US platform currently operates with an invite-only waitlist (over 1 million users waiting). Invite codes like COVERS or LABS let you skip the waitlist.

US users complete KYC verification before trading - ID upload and selfie matching.

Key Differences: Global vs US Platform

Security Best Practices

The December 2025 Breach - What Happened

In December 2025, attackers exploited a vulnerability in Magic Labs' authentication system - the third-party service that manages login for email/Google users. Key facts:

• Login OTP codes were originally only 3 digits, making them vulnerable to brute-force attacks
• Attackers targeted the email-based magic link login flow
• A "limited number" of users who used email/Google login were affected
• Browser wallet users (MetaMask/Rabby) were NOT affected
• Polymarket's smart contracts and on-chain protocol were NOT compromised
• Total funds lost were never publicly disclosed

Polymarket's response:

• Upgraded OTP codes from 3 digits to 6 digits
• Published the key export tool so users could switch to self-custody
• Recommended users enable 2FA

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

After the breach, enabling 2FA is strongly recommended for all users:

1. Go to Settings in your Polymarket account
2. Find the Two-Factor Authentication section
3. Scan the QR code with an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, or any TOTP-compatible app)
4. Enter the 6-digit code to verify
5. Save your 16-character backup code in a secure location

Setting up 2FA - scan the QR code with Google Authenticator or Authy.

Export Your Private Key (Email/Google Users)

If you signed up with email or Google and want to take full control of your wallet:

1. Go to reveal.magic.link/polymarket
2. Authenticate with your Magic Link email
3. Your private key is displayed - copy and store it securely offline
4. Import the key into MetaMask or Rabby to use as a browser wallet

After exporting, you can switch to browser wallet login for enhanced security. Many traders did exactly this after the December 2025 breach.

Security Checklist

Known Phishing Attacks

Be aware of these active attack vectors targeting Polymarket users:

1. Comment Section Phishing ($500K+ Stolen)

Attackers buy both YES and NO shares so their comments appear in the "Holders" tab. Comments promote fake "private markets" with links to Polymarket-lookalike sites. The fake sites prompt email login, then display a fake "Cloudflare verification" popup that copies malicious code to your clipboard.

Rule: Never click links in Polymarket market comments. Ever.

2. Fake Trading Bots on GitHub

The dev-protocol GitHub organization (verified, 568 followers) was hijacked and used to distribute malicious "Polymarket trading bots" that steal wallet keys. Typosquat npm packages posing as official Polymarket libraries have also been found.

Rule: Only use official Polymarket code from github.com/Polymarket.

3. Fake Recovery Tools

Repositories advertising "Polymarket wallet recovery" that actually steal private keys.

Rule: The only official recovery tool is at recovery.polymarket.com.

Mobile vs Desktop

Desktop gives you the full order book and charts. Mobile works well for quick trades and monitoring.

The Polymarket US iOS app launched in December 2025 and hit #1 on the App Store sports chart. It's only available for US users who complete KYC, and currently supports sports markets only.

For serious trading on the global platform, desktop is strongly preferred - the full order book, charting tools, and browser wallet integration give you a significant edge.

Account Recovery

What happens if you lose access depends on how you signed up:

Common Sign-Up Issues

"Magic link not arriving"

• Check your spam/junk folder - magic links from Magic Labs often get filtered
• Wait 2-3 minutes - there can be processing delays
• Try a different email provider (Gmail has the highest delivery rate)
• Verify you typed your email correctly - there's no error message for wrong addresses
• Check if your email provider blocks transactional emails from new senders

"Wallet won't connect"

• Confirm your wallet is on the Polygon PoS network (not Ethereum mainnet or Polygon zkEVM)
• Clear your browser cache and disable conflicting extensions
• Try Chrome - it has the best compatibility with MetaMask and most wallet extensions
• Update your wallet extension to the latest version
• If using WalletConnect, try disconnecting and reconnecting

"KYC verification failed" (US users)

• Ensure your ID photo is clear, well-lit, and shows all four corners
• Your selfie must match your ID - remove hats, glasses, or face coverings
• Use a valid, non-expired government-issued ID
• Some state IDs may not be accepted - try a passport instead
• Contact Polymarket support if issues persist after multiple attempts

Smart Contract Audits

Polymarket's contracts have been audited by ChainSecurity, a reputable Swiss security firm:

Bottom line: Polymarket's on-chain smart contracts have never been successfully exploited. The December 2025 breach was at the authentication layer (Magic Labs), not the blockchain layer. The contracts themselves are battle-tested with billions of dollars flowing through them.

What's Next?

Your account is ready. The next step is funding it so you can start trading.

1. Deposit funds - Our guide walks you through the cheapest methods (crypto transfer: under $1 in fees vs card: up to 4.5%).
2. Make your first trade - A complete walkthrough of placing your first order.
3. Learn basic strategies - Understand edge, position sizing, and when to exit.