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Further documentation for non-API users accessing Polymarket US via its iOS app is available at isvdocs.polymarket.us.

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Trader FAQs

These FAQs are for DMA Participants (Direct Market Access traders) using the Polymarket Exchange API.
The Polymarket Exchange is a CFTC-regulated exchange for trading event contracts. DMA participants can trade directly on the exchange using the API, with real-time market data and order execution.
To start trading on the Polymarket Exchange:
  1. Complete the Onboarding process
  2. Generate your RSA key pairs for authentication
  3. Set up Authentication with Private Key JWT
  4. Follow the Quickstart guide to place your first order
The Polymarket Exchange operates 24/7 for most markets. Specific instruments may have different trading hours based on the underlying event. Check the instrument metadata for trading schedule details.
Trading fees vary by instrument and order type. Contact Polymarket for the current fee schedule. Fees are deducted from your account balance when trades execute.
Position limits are set per instrument and per account. These limits are enforced to manage risk. Check with Polymarket for specific limit details for your account type.
DMA participants typically fund accounts through wire transfer or other approved methods. Contact onboarding@qcex.com for funding instructions specific to your account setup.
Unlike retail users who use Aeropay or Checkout.com, DMA participants have different funding arrangements.
/search-trades returns only trades for your authenticated user, not exchange-wide trades.The endpoint uses participant-scoped authentication, meaning:
  1. Per-User Token: Your Auth0 JWT is exchanged for a participant token scoped to your participant_id
  2. Automatic Filtering: The exchange automatically filters results to trades where you are a party (buyer or seller)
  3. No Cross-User Access: You cannot see other participants’ trades
The same scoping applies to related endpoints:
  • /search-orders - only your orders
  • /search-executions - only your executions
  • /positions/list - only your positions
  • /accounts/balance - only your account balances
If you need exchange-wide trade data (e.g., for market analysis), use the public market data endpoints or the market data stream instead.

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Partner FAQs

These FAQs are for Partners (ISVs, IBs, and FCMs) integrating with the Polymarket Exchange.
A Participant ID is the unique identifier for an individual trading user on the Polymarket Exchange. It represents the identity of the person authorized to trade.Format:
firms/[PARTICIPANT_FIRM]/users/[USER_ID]
Example:
firms/ISV-Participant-Acme/users/user-abc-123
Components:
  • [PARTICIPANT_FIRM]: Your ISV’s participant firm name (assigned during onboarding)
  • [USER_ID]: The user identifier you provide during KYC provisioning
How it’s used:
  1. Token Creation: Your Auth0 JWT is exchanged for a participant-scoped trading token via /v1/participant/token
  2. Trading Operations: All orders are placed and tracked under your participant ID
  3. Audit Trail: Trades, executions, and positions are attributed to your participant ID
  4. Funding: Deposits and withdrawals are scoped to your participant’s account
When it’s created: Your participant ID is automatically provisioned when you complete KYC verification. The ID is returned in the KYC response and stored for subsequent API calls.
Each user has exactly one participant ID. All trading activity for that user is associated with this single identity.
The ISV-Participant-{name} portion is the firm name, not a description of the user.Example:
firms/ISV-Participant-Alice/users/bob
ComponentMeaning
ISV-Participant-AliceAlice’s firm (where users are created)
bobThe end user’s username
This is the expected format. All users belonging to an ISV have the ISV’s firm name in their participant_id.
The “ISV” prefix is a naming convention for the firm, not an indicator that the user is an ISV. Your end users are correctly provisioned under your firm.
Partners onboard end users through the KYC verification flow:
  1. Create a user record via the API
  2. Initiate KYC verification for the user
  3. User completes identity verification
  4. Upon approval, the user receives a participant ID
  5. User can now trade under your firm
See the KYC Verification guide for details.
Partners can integrate payment methods for their users:
  • Aeropay: Bank account linking for deposits/withdrawals
  • Checkout.com: Card-based deposits
See the Payments Overview for integration details.
Polymarket provides webhooks for real-time notifications:
  • KYC status changes
  • Funding events
  • User account updates
See Webhooks for setup instructions.

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General FAQs

Polymarket provides three environments:
EnvironmentPurpose
DevelopmentInitial integration and testing
Pre-productionFinal testing before go-live
ProductionLive trading
Each environment requires separate credentials. See Environments for details.
The Polymarket Exchange uses Private Key JWT authentication via Auth0. You sign a JWT with your RSA private key and exchange it for an access token.See Authentication for complete details.
Rate limits vary by endpoint and account type. See Rate Limits for current limits.
Contact support based on your needs: