Polymarket referral code: how Polymarket's referral program works
In the US app, a Polymarket referral code is just another user's username: you deposit $10 and you both get $25 in trading credits. The international site runs a different program that pays the referrer a share of fees.
A Polymarket referral code is simply another Polymarket US user’s username. If you enter it when you sign up and deposit at least $10, you and the friend who referred you each get $25 in trading credits, per Polymarket US’s official program terms as of October 2026. There’s no secret code to hunt for, and we don’t publish codes. The rest of this page explains how Polymarket’s two separate referral programs work.
Two Polymarket apps, two referral programs
Polymarket now runs as two separate products, and its own help centre says the accounts “are not connected”:
- Polymarket US is a CFTC-regulated exchange (QCX LLC, d/b/a Polymarket US) on iPhone and the web, funded in dollars. If you’re in the US, this is the one you can use.
- Polymarket.com is the international, crypto-funded site. Its help centre says plainly: “Polymarket.com is not accessible for US residents.”
The two run different referral programs. US users get a sign-up credit. International users who refer others get a share of their fees.
How the Polymarket US referral code works
Polymarket US’s Refer-A-Friend program, as described in its docs and the exchange notice it filed on August 26, 2026, works like this:
The fine print that matters:
- The credits aren’t cash. Per Polymarket US: credits “may be used to open positions and pay applicable fees, but may not be withdrawn as cash.” Profits you make from trades opened with them are a separate matter, so check the in-app terms.
- They expire. The August 2026 amendment changed referral rewards “from withdrawable credits to expirable promotional trading credits,” effective September 10, 2026. Polymarket hasn’t published the exact expiry period.
- There’s a cap. Each user can refer up to 50 friends.
- There’s an end date. The amended program runs until March 10, 2027, unless Polymarket changes it.
The $25 deposit offer, without a referral code
You don’t need a referral code to get a sign-up credit. Polymarket US also runs a Deposit Incentive Program. Its current campaign, running from October 16, 2026, gives you $25 in credits if you deposit at least $10 within seven days of onboarding. Only your first deposit counts, and the credit arrives within 24 hours.
You can’t stack the two: referred users “may not participate in the Deposit Incentive Program,” per the exchange notice. So the $25 is the same either way. The difference is that a referral code also earns your friend $25.
Our take: which route to use
| Your situation | Best route | What you get | What your friend gets |
|---|---|---|---|
| A friend already uses Polymarket US | Their username as a referral code | $25 credit | $25 credit |
| You don’t know anyone on it | Deposit Incentive Program (no code) | $25 credit | — |
| You plan to deposit $1,000+ | Check the app for the Deposit and Trading Incentive Program | Credits of $10 to $250, depending on your activity and the campaign | — |
| You’re outside the US, on polymarket.com | Nothing to claim | No sign-up bonus | Possible fee share (see below) |
Every route depends on passing identity verification. Polymarket US asks for your legal name, date of birth, phone number, home address and Social Security number before you can deposit. Its participant agreement requires you to be at least 18 and of legal age in your state.
How the international referral program works
On polymarket.com there’s no referral code. You share any market or profile page and anyone who signs up within 30 days of clicking it becomes your referral. Under terms that took effect on May 28, 2026, the referrer earns:
- 10% of net trading fees from direct referrals, and 5% from indirect ones.
- Only after $10,000 in lifetime trading volume of your own.
- For 30 days after each referral signs up, or until they reach the Platinum tier, whichever comes first.
- Paid daily at midnight UTC in pUSD, a USDC-backed token on Polygon.
Referrals trading in fee-free markets, including geopolitics and world events, earn you nothing. Polymarket’s docs don’t mention any bonus for the person being referred. Older articles quoting a 30% revenue share describe the previous terms.
Is Polymarket available where you live?
Polymarket US’s App Store listing says it is “fully legal & CFTC regulated in the United States — in all 50 states*”, with the footnote “Trading currently unavailable in NV.” A Nevada state court enjoined Polymarket on May 29, 2026, per the Nevada Gaming Control Board. On September 24, 2026, New York’s Attorney General sued Polymarket US, calling it an “illegal, unlicensed gambling operation.” Rules are changing quickly, so check our prediction market legality tracker before depositing.
Polymarket or Kalshi for a sign-up offer?
Both US exchanges give new users promotional credits rather than cash. See how Kalshi’s version works in our Kalshi promo code guide. To compare the platforms on fees, markets and funding, read our Polymarket vs Kalshi comparison and our full Polymarket review.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Polymarket referral code?
On Polymarket US, the referral code is simply the referring user's username. A new user enters it at sign-up, deposits at least $10, and both people get $25 in promotional trading credits within seven days. On the international polymarket.com site there is no code: referrals come from a shared market or profile link.
Can I withdraw Polymarket referral credits?
No. Polymarket US says its incentive credits 'may be used to open positions and pay applicable fees, but may not be withdrawn as cash.' Since September 10, 2026, refer-a-friend credits also expire a set number of days after they're issued.
Can I use a referral code and the $25 deposit offer together?
No. Polymarket US's exchange notice for the amended Refer-A-Friend program says referred participants may not take part in the Deposit Incentive Program. You get one $25 credit or the other, not both.
Is Polymarket available in my state?
Polymarket US's App Store listing says trading is available in all 50 states except Nevada, where a state court enjoined it in May 2026. New York sued Polymarket US in September 2026 and Ohio has sent a cease-and-desist, so check the app's location check and our legality tracker first.
Sources
- Polymarket US Docs — User incentive programs (Refer-A-Friend, Deposit Incentive)
- Polymarket US Exchange Notice — Amended Refer-A-Friend Incentive Program (August 26, 2026)
- Polymarket US Exchange Notice — Amended Deposit Incentive Program (September 18, 2026)
- Polymarket US Docs — Can I withdraw promotional credits?
- Polymarket US Docs — Sign up and verification
- Polymarket US Participant Agreement (eligibility, age)
- Polymarket Docs — Referral Program (international, effective May 28, 2026)
- Polymarket Help Center — Website vs app: what's the difference?
- Apple App Store — Polymarket (US app listing)
- Nevada Gaming Control Board — Timeline of actions against prediction markets
- New York Attorney General — lawsuit against Polymarket US (September 2026)
Last checked:
18+ (21+ where required). Prediction markets involve risk of loss — only trade what you can afford to lose. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (National Problem Gambling Helpline, 24/7).