Polymarket adds taker fees to short-term crypto markets

Polymarket has quietly introduced taker-only fees on its 15-minute crypto up or down markets.

The change marks a shift from the platform’s long-standing zero-fee trading model.

Updated documentation shows the fees apply only to short-duration crypto markets.

Polymarket said the fees are used to fund liquidity incentives for market makers.

Taker fees collected are redistributed daily to liquidity providers rather than kept by the platform.

The fee level varies based on market odds and peaks when prices are near 50%.

A taker trade of 100 shares priced at $0.50 would incur a fee of roughly $1.56.

The fees fall sharply as odds move closer to 0% or 100%.

The update appeared without a formal announcement from Polymarket.

This will increase protection from wash trading.

X user 0x_opus said.

The change was directed against high-frequency bots.

Another trader said.

The headline is scary, but not as bad as it sounds.

Tawer955 said, adding that the model supports sustainable liquidity.

Longer-term crypto markets, political markets and non-crypto predictions remain fee-free.

Polymarket said small or directional trades will see limited impact due to rounding and lower fees at extremes.