Is Polymarket Trade non-custodial?

Short answer

Yes, Polymarket Trade is non-custodial. Users connect their own crypto wallet and retain full control of their funds at all times — the platform never holds or manages user assets on their behalf.

What to know

Non-custodial means the platform acts as an interface, not a bank. When you use Polymarket Trade, you connect an external wallet such as MetaMask. Your assets remain in that wallet throughout the process. The platform cannot move your funds, freeze your account, or access your private keys.

Trading on Polymarket happens through smart contracts on a public blockchain. When you place an order, your wallet signs the transaction directly and the blockchain settles it. There is no company holding your money in between. You can verify every transaction yourself by looking it up on a block explorer.

This architecture differs from traditional exchanges or betting sites where you deposit funds into a company-controlled account. Non-custodial platforms eliminate the counterparty risk of a company becoming insolvent, freezing withdrawals, or mismanaging user deposits, though they introduce a different responsibility: you are solely in charge of your own wallet security.

Because custody stays with the user, there is no withdrawal process in the traditional sense. Your winnings or remaining collateral are settled on-chain and accessible directly from your wallet without needing to request a payout from any intermediary.

Key points

• Users connect an existing self-custodied wallet and the platform never takes possession of funds.
• All trades settle through auditable smart contracts on a public blockchain.
• No account registration, username, or password is required — wallet connection is the identity layer.
• Losing access to your wallet means losing access to your funds, since no company holds a backup on your behalf.
• The interface cannot freeze, seize, or reverse your on-chain positions.
• Your transaction history is publicly verifiable on-chain at any time.

How it compares

• Custodial exchange: A company holds your funds in its own accounts. You see a balance on a website, but you do not hold the assets directly. Withdrawals depend on the company's solvency and policies.
• Non-custodial wallet interface (like Polymarket Trade): You hold your assets in your own wallet. The platform is software that helps you interact with the blockchain. The company can shut down and your funds remain intact in your wallet.
• Traditional bookmaker or prediction site: Requires depositing funds into a company account. Payouts depend on that company processing your withdrawal request and remaining operational.
• Decentralized protocol with custodial front-end: Some platforms use decentralized contracts but custody funds during certain steps. Non-custodial means no custody at any step of the flow.

FAQ

Do I need to deposit funds into Polymarket Trade?

No. You connect your existing wallet and the platform reads your on-chain balances directly. There is no deposit step where you transfer assets to a company-controlled wallet.

What happens to my funds if Polymarket Trade stops operating?

Your funds remain in your wallet and your positions remain in the underlying smart contracts. Because custody is never transferred to the platform, a service shutdown does not put your assets at risk. You would still be able to interact with the underlying protocol directly.

Who controls my private keys?

You do. Polymarket Trade never has access to your private keys or seed phrase. This also means you are solely responsible for keeping them secure, since no support team can recover your wallet if you lose access.

Is my wallet address visible to others?

Yes. Because transactions settle on a public blockchain, your wallet address and trade history are publicly viewable by anyone with a block explorer. Your address is pseudonymous — it is not linked to your real name by the platform — but it is not anonymous.

Can Polymarket Trade reverse or cancel my trades?

No. Once a transaction is confirmed on-chain, it cannot be reversed by the platform. Smart contract settlement is final. This is a core property of non-custodial, on-chain systems.

Does non-custodial mean it is safer?

Non-custodial eliminates the specific risk of a company mismanaging or losing your funds. However, it introduces personal responsibility: if you lose your seed phrase, send funds to the wrong address, or approve a malicious contract, there is no recovery mechanism. The risk profile is different, not absent.