Polymarket’s official documentation has added a fees page, clarifying that a fee mechanism will be enabled in 15-minute crypto price fluctuation markets, charging up to 3% taker fees. This represents a significant commercial adjustment for this leading prediction market platform and reflects the entire industry’s shift from free exploration to commercialized operations.
Specific Adjustments to Fee Policy
According to the official documentation, Polymarket will soon enable a fee mechanism in 15-minute crypto price fluctuation markets. This means users trading in such short-term markets will face taker fee costs of up to 3%. While the announcement does not provide detailed fee tiers for different scenarios, the “maximum 3%” figure is already substantial enough to have a material impact on short-term trading returns.
This move is noteworthy because Polymarket previously employed a free or low-fee model in most markets. The transition from free to paid services marks the platform’s shift from the user acquisition growth phase to a new stage of pursuing commercial monetization.
Why Choose Short-Term Markets for Fees
Characteristics of Short-Term Markets
15-minute crypto price fluctuation markets are among the most actively traded and heavily participated markets on Polymarket. These markets are characterized by short cycles, frequent trading, and numerous participants, which means:
High user trading volumes generate observable platform revenue even at modest fee rates
Short-term traders are typically more fee-sensitive but also more easily attracted to other platforms by minimal fee differences
Risk in these markets is relatively controllable with limited user losses
Commercial Considerations
According to latest data, the prediction market industry has formed a clear competitive landscape by end of 2025. Polymarket and Kalshi are co-leading the industry, but newcomer Opinion’s trading volume in December 2025 now allows the three to stand on equal footing. Under such competitive pressure, Polymarket needs to commercialize to enhance profitability.
Meanwhile, the recent partnership between PRCL and Polymarket has attracted market attention, with PRCL rising 84% to $0.037 on January 5. This indicates rising market expectations for Polymarket’s ecosystem expansion and commercialization.
Potential Market Impact
Effects on Trading Behavior
The 3% fee has vastly different impacts on different types of traders. For users with long-term directional conviction, 3% may not be a primary consideration. However, for short-term traders relying on small spread arbitrage and frequent entry/exit, this fee is substantial enough to alter trading strategy.
This may lead to decreased trading activity in short-term markets, while simultaneously filtering out traders without information advantages or analytical capabilities.
Changes in Platform Revenue
If 15-minute market trading volume remains constant, the 3% fee will generate observable new revenue for Polymarket. However, the more realistic scenario is that fees may cause some traders to migrate to other free or low-fee platforms. The net effect depends on price sensitivity and user stickiness.
Industry Context: Insider Trading Controversy Accelerates Commercialization
It is worth noting that this fee policy adjustment occurs against the backdrop of Polymarket’s insider trading controversy following the Maduro event. In recent days, prediction markets have drawn U.S. Congress attention due to insiders placing large bets before political events, with U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres even proposing the “Financial Prediction Markets Public Honesty Act of 2026.”
Under such regulatory pressure, Polymarket’s commercialization move may carry dual implications: first, to enhance platform professionalism and raise barriers to entry through fees; second, to increase revenue to support potential future compliance costs.
Summary
Polymarket’s fee policy adjustment marks the prediction market industry’s transition from reckless growth to mature commercialization. In the short term, the 3% transaction fee will alter user trading behavior and may adjust short-term market trading patterns. Long term, this reflects the platform’s commercial pressures and regulatory challenges.
For users, trading costs on Polymarket need reassessment. For the industry, this may trigger copycat effects from other platforms or conversely become a differentiation point for new entrants. The competitive landscape of prediction markets is accelerating its evolution.
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Polymarket bắt đầu thu phí: phí tối đa 3% cho thị trường trong 15 phút, điểm chuyển đổi thương mại của thị trường dự đoán
Polymarket’s official documentation has added a fees page, clarifying that a fee mechanism will be enabled in 15-minute crypto price fluctuation markets, charging up to 3% taker fees. This represents a significant commercial adjustment for this leading prediction market platform and reflects the entire industry’s shift from free exploration to commercialized operations.
Specific Adjustments to Fee Policy
According to the official documentation, Polymarket will soon enable a fee mechanism in 15-minute crypto price fluctuation markets. This means users trading in such short-term markets will face taker fee costs of up to 3%. While the announcement does not provide detailed fee tiers for different scenarios, the “maximum 3%” figure is already substantial enough to have a material impact on short-term trading returns.
This move is noteworthy because Polymarket previously employed a free or low-fee model in most markets. The transition from free to paid services marks the platform’s shift from the user acquisition growth phase to a new stage of pursuing commercial monetization.
Why Choose Short-Term Markets for Fees
Characteristics of Short-Term Markets
15-minute crypto price fluctuation markets are among the most actively traded and heavily participated markets on Polymarket. These markets are characterized by short cycles, frequent trading, and numerous participants, which means:
Commercial Considerations
According to latest data, the prediction market industry has formed a clear competitive landscape by end of 2025. Polymarket and Kalshi are co-leading the industry, but newcomer Opinion’s trading volume in December 2025 now allows the three to stand on equal footing. Under such competitive pressure, Polymarket needs to commercialize to enhance profitability.
Meanwhile, the recent partnership between PRCL and Polymarket has attracted market attention, with PRCL rising 84% to $0.037 on January 5. This indicates rising market expectations for Polymarket’s ecosystem expansion and commercialization.
Potential Market Impact
Effects on Trading Behavior
The 3% fee has vastly different impacts on different types of traders. For users with long-term directional conviction, 3% may not be a primary consideration. However, for short-term traders relying on small spread arbitrage and frequent entry/exit, this fee is substantial enough to alter trading strategy.
This may lead to decreased trading activity in short-term markets, while simultaneously filtering out traders without information advantages or analytical capabilities.
Changes in Platform Revenue
If 15-minute market trading volume remains constant, the 3% fee will generate observable new revenue for Polymarket. However, the more realistic scenario is that fees may cause some traders to migrate to other free or low-fee platforms. The net effect depends on price sensitivity and user stickiness.
Industry Context: Insider Trading Controversy Accelerates Commercialization
It is worth noting that this fee policy adjustment occurs against the backdrop of Polymarket’s insider trading controversy following the Maduro event. In recent days, prediction markets have drawn U.S. Congress attention due to insiders placing large bets before political events, with U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres even proposing the “Financial Prediction Markets Public Honesty Act of 2026.”
Under such regulatory pressure, Polymarket’s commercialization move may carry dual implications: first, to enhance platform professionalism and raise barriers to entry through fees; second, to increase revenue to support potential future compliance costs.
Summary
Polymarket’s fee policy adjustment marks the prediction market industry’s transition from reckless growth to mature commercialization. In the short term, the 3% transaction fee will alter user trading behavior and may adjust short-term market trading patterns. Long term, this reflects the platform’s commercial pressures and regulatory challenges.
For users, trading costs on Polymarket need reassessment. For the industry, this may trigger copycat effects from other platforms or conversely become a differentiation point for new entrants. The competitive landscape of prediction markets is accelerating its evolution.