How to bet on prediction markets with crypto: a step-by-step guide
In short
Step by step
Check it's allowed where you live. Prediction markets and crypto gambling are restricted or banned in some countries. Each venue lists where it can't be used; viewing odds is open everywhere.
Get a stablecoin on a supported network. Buy USDC (or the stablecoin the venue lists) on an exchange or in a wallet app. Note the network it's on, such as Base, Solana, Polygon or Ethereum: a deposit must be on a network the venue accepts for that coin.
Deposit it. Copy your deposit address from the venue's wallet, send a small test amount first, and wait for the network to confirm (usually seconds to minutes). Sending a coin on an unlisted network can lose it.
Read the odds and pick a side. A share's price in cents is the market's chance in percent, and it pays $1 if right: buying at 40¢ pays 2.5x. Check the volume and spread, and read the market's resolution rules.
Hold or sell. Hold to the result and a right share pays $1, a wrong one $0. Or sell early at the live bid to lock in a gain or cut a loss.
Withdraw to your own wallet. Withdraw the stablecoin to a wallet address you control, on a network the venue pays out on, and keep the network fee in mind.
Why crypto, and why stablecoins
Crypto-native venues such as Polymarket settle every trade in a dollar stablecoin, so a share costs between 1¢ and 99¢ in a coin worth $1 and pays exactly $1 if right. Using a stablecoin rather than Bitcoin or Ether keeps the odds in dollars: your position doesn't also move with a coin price.
Networks matter more than coins. The same USDC exists on several networks; the cheapest to move are usually Base, Solana and Polygon, where a transfer costs cents. Ethereum mainnet works but fees can be dollars.
Two ways in: trade yourself, or rip a pack
On an exchange you choose the exact market, side and size, and pay the spread. PredictRips is a fixed-price alternative: a pack holds 3 random live Polymarket positions, with the odds and pack value (about 90% of the price) shown before you pay, and each card can be held to the result or cashed out at the live price. Deposits are in USDC, USDT, DAI and PYUSD on Base, Arbitrum One, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon PoS, OP Mainnet, Avalanche C-Chain, Solana (SPL) and Ethereum, and balances are kept in USDC. The first pack is free.
Costs to expect
The spread between buy and sell (1¢ to 2¢ on busy markets, more on thin ones), any venue fee, and network fees on the way in and out. On packs the cost is a disclosed house edge instead, about 10% of the price.
The risks
It is gambling: most positions on long shots lose, and even a 70% favourite loses about 3 times in 10. Crypto adds its own risks: a wrong network or address is usually unrecoverable, and scam sites copy real venues. Bookmark the real site, never share a seed phrase, start small, and set a budget. Deposit limits, breaks and self-exclusion should be one tap away; if they aren't, pick another venue.
Step-by-step guides for each coin and network, with live minimums and fees: deposit guides.