Polymarket is set to implement trading fees across a broader range of markets starting March 30. This change will coincide with the launch of a referral program that allows users to earn up to 30% of trading revenue.
Currently, trading fees on Polymarket are limited to cryptocurrency and sports event contracts. However, under the new fee structure, these charges will extend to additional categories such as politics, finance, economics, culture, weather, technology, and more.
The platform will maintain its probability-based fee model rather than adopting a flat commission. Fees will be highest at around 50% probability, tapering off as the event outcome becomes more predictable, nearing zero at probabilities close to 0% or 100%.
Different market categories will feature distinct fee structures. For instance, cryptocurrency markets will incur the highest effective fees, peaking at 1.8% at 50% probability, an increase from the previous rate of 1.56%. In contrast, sports markets will see lower fees, with a peak of 0.75% at 50% probability, up from 0.44%.
To illustrate, a $50 trade on a sports event with a 50% probability will see fees rise from $0.22 to $0.38. Most other categories will have effective rates ranging from 1% to 1.56%.
Moreover, maker orders that contribute liquidity to the order book will still qualify for rebates funded by taker fees. Polymarket plans to enhance its maker rebate program as part of the overall fee rollout, with rebates distributed daily in USDC based on the liquidity provided by users.
Alongside the fee changes, Polymarket has introduced a referral program for users who have traded at least $10,000. Eligible traders can generate a referral link to share with an unlimited number of people. When someone registers through that link, the original user earns a percentage of the fees from those trades.
For a limited time, users can earn:
- 30% of fees from direct referrals
- 10% of fees from second-level referrals
Direct referrals are those personally referred by the user, while second-level referrals are those that come through a direct referral.
The rewards are available for the first 180 days post-signup, with the duration subject to change without prior notice. This program is an expansion of a previously limited rollout and is now being made more widely available as part of Polymarket's updated incentive structure.
In conjunction with the fee adjustments and referral program, Polymarket has introduced new integrity measures to combat insider trading and market manipulation. The company has updated its market integrity rules for its international cryptocurrency platform and its CFTC-regulated U.S. exchange, clarifying three categories of prohibited trading:
- Trading on stolen confidential information
- Trading on illegal tips
- Trading by individuals who can influence event outcomes
Users can report suspicious activities through Polymarket’s new Market Integrity pages, where they can also learn more about the updated rules. The introduction of these measures, alongside the fee and referral program, reflects Polymarket’s commitment to enhancing market integrity while increasing user engagement and liquidity.