Most people should start on a dollar-funded platform, and if that is you, you can skip this entirely — the choosing a platform guide explains the fork. But the deepest global markets, on venues like Polymarket, settle in a crypto stablecoin rather than US dollars. Funding one is genuinely straightforward once you know the four moving parts: a wallet, the stablecoin USDC, the network it travels on, and the deposit itself.
Which platforms use crypto
Crypto funding is the exception, not the rule. The regulated US exchanges — Kalshi, FanDuel Predicts, Robinhood and most others — take dollars from a bank or card. A smaller set of platforms are crypto-native and settle in USDC, a stablecoin designed to hold a value of one US dollar. If your platform of choice is dollar-based, none of the steps below apply. If it is crypto-based, the value you deposit still behaves like dollars once it is on the platform; the crypto part is only the delivery mechanism. Our best for crypto roundup lists the venues where this matters.
Wallets and USDC
A crypto wallet is simply an app that holds your funds and signs transactions — think of it as the account you fund the platform from. You install a reputable wallet, secure it (see below), and acquire USDC to put in it. Most people buy USDC on a mainstream exchange using a card or bank transfer, then move it to their wallet; some wallets let you buy it directly. The key is to end up holding USDC — not another coin — because that is what the prediction market expects. Buying the wrong asset is the most common beginner error, and swapping it later costs time and fees.
Networks and gas
This is the step that trips people up. USDC exists on several networks (blockchains), and you must send it on the same network the platform accepts — many crypto-native prediction markets use a low-cost network such as Polygon. Sending USDC on the wrong network can mean the funds do not arrive and, in the worst case, cannot be recovered. Always match the network shown on the platform’s deposit screen. You will also pay a small gas fee — the network’s charge for processing a transfer — which is why low-cost networks are preferred. Send a small test amount first if you are unsure; the few cents of gas is cheap insurance.
Making the deposit
On the platform, open the deposit screen and copy the deposit address it shows, along with the required network. In your wallet, choose to send USDC, paste that address, select the matching network, and confirm. The transfer usually lands within minutes once the network confirms it. Double-check the first few and last few characters of the address before sending — addresses are long strings and pasting is safer than typing, but a corrupted clipboard is a real risk. Once the USDC arrives, it shows as your tradeable balance and you are ready to trade.
Staying secure
Self-custody means you are your own bank, so the security basics are non-negotiable. Write down your wallet’s recovery phrase and store it offline — never in a photo, email or cloud note, and never share it with anyone, including ‘support’. Bookmark the real platform site and reach it only through your bookmark to avoid look-alike phishing pages. Start with an amount you are comfortable with while you learn the flow. If holding your own keys is not for you, that is a perfectly good reason to choose a dollar-funded platform instead — and to run any platform through the trust checklist before depositing.
Frequently asked questions
What is USDC and why do prediction markets use it?
USDC is a stablecoin designed to hold a value of one US dollar. Crypto-native prediction markets use it so balances behave like dollars while still settling on a blockchain. Once it is on the platform, you trade with it just as you would dollars.
What happens if I send USDC on the wrong network?
It may not arrive, and in some cases cannot be recovered. USDC exists on several networks, so you must send it on the exact network the platform’s deposit screen specifies — often a low-cost one like Polygon. Sending a small test amount first is a sensible precaution.
Do I have to use crypto to trade prediction markets?
No. Most regulated US exchanges take dollars from a bank account or debit card with no crypto at all. You only need USDC if you specifically want to use a crypto-settled platform for the markets it lists.