Polymarket restricted countries: who can trade in 2026

এই গাইডটি ব্যাখ্যা করে কোন দেশগুলি Polymarket-এ নতুন অর্ডার রাখার ক্ষেত্রে সম্পূর্ণভাবে ব্লক করা আছে, কোন অঞ্চলগুলো "close-only" হিসেবে চিহ্নিত, এবং যুক্তরাষ্ট্র ও OFAC-নেটিভ অঞ্চলগুলো কীভাবে ব্যবহৃত হয়। যদি আপনি দ্রুত উত্তর চান: Polymarket নির্দিষ্ট দেশগুলোর জন্য নতুন অর্ডার ব্লক করে, কিছু অঞ্চলকে close-only হিসেবে রাখে, এবং যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের জন্য একটি পৃথক, নিয়ন্ত্রিত পথ সরবরাহ করে। সঠিক শ্রেণীবিভাগ ও ব্যবহারিক প্রভাব জানতে পড়তে থাকুন।

Key takeaways

• Polymarket blocks new orders from 33 named countries plus all OFAC-sanctioned countries; users in blocked countries cannot place new orders.
• Some territories are "close-only": Poland, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan (you can close existing positions but not open new ones).
• The United States is blocked on polymarket.com for new orders; a separate CFTC-regulated pathway exists with KYC requirements.
• VPN use to bypass geoblocking is strictly prohibited by Polymarket's Terms of Service.
• Check Polymarket's official restrictions page before trading — rules and country lists can change.

What "blocked" and "close-only" mean

Blocked: You cannot open new orders or create new positions on Polymarket from a blocked country. The platform prevents order placement by IP and other signals.

Close-only: If your account or funds predate a regional restriction, you may be allowed to close or reduce existing positions but not open new ones. Close-only is a limited consumer-protection measure; it does not restore full trading rights.

Polymarket enforces these classifications at the platform level and may block by IP, wallet metadata, or other compliance signals.

The current Polymarket blocked countries (summary)

As of 2026-04-20, Polymarket fully blocks new orders from the following list of countries (this list is subject to change by Polymarket):

• Australia
• Belgium
• Cuba
• France
• Germany
• Iran
• Italy
• North Korea
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Russia
• Singapore
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• United Kingdom
• Venezuela

In addition to the list above, Polymarket also blocks all OFAC-sanctioned countries. The OFAC list includes regimes such as Iran, North Korea, and others — for authoritative OFAC designations see the official OFAC resources.

Note: The brief’s canonical reference stated "33 countries including" the names above. The list above contains the explicitly named countries provided in the canonical reference. For the full enumerated list of 33 countries, consult Polymarket's official restrictions page, since we must not invent or expand the list beyond the documented names here.

Close-only jurisdictions

Polymarket explicitly classifies these jurisdictions as close-only (you can reduce or close positions but cannot open new ones):

• Poland
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Taiwan

Close-only status may be implemented differently per user depending on when you deposited funds or opened positions. If you are in a close-only jurisdiction, check your account status on Polymarket before attempting any trades.

The United States carve-out and regulated pathway

Polymarket blocks new orders from the United States on polymarket.com. Polymarket also offers a separate CFTC-regulated pathway for US users that requires KYC (Know Your Customer) and other regulatory compliance. If you are a US resident and want to trade through that regulated channel, you must follow the KYC enrolment and the platform’s US-specific procedures.

For more on the regulatory mechanism that applies to US trading, see the glossary entry on CFTC and the platform's own guidance.

Why Polymarket restricts by geography

There are three practical reasons:

1. Regulatory compliance. Different jurisdictions have different rules about prediction markets, betting, and derivative-like products. Polymarket uses geographic restrictions to limit legal exposure.
2. Sanctions compliance. Polymarket blocks access from OFAC-sanctioned countries to comply with international sanctions regimes.
3. Business and licensing. Some countries require local licensing or have regulatory frameworks that Polymarket has not chosen to enable, so the platform disables order placement in those regions.

These measures are common across decentralised and centralised trading venues when legal exposure is material.

How Polymarket enforces geoblocking

Polymarket enforces regional restrictions using a combination of IP-based blocking, account and wallet metadata, and other compliance signals. Wallets, relayer requests, or accounts originating from blocked IP ranges will be prevented from creating new orders.

Polymarket explicitly prohibits VPN or other evasion attempts in its Terms of Service. Using a VPN to circumvent geoblocks may violate the platform’s rules and could result in account restrictions.

Practical examples

• If you are in France or the United Kingdom: you will not be able to place new orders on polymarket.com.
• If you are in Singapore and you opened positions before a restriction took effect: you may be able to close those positions but not open new ones.
• If you are in the United States: you cannot open orders on polymarket.com, but you may be eligible for the CFTC-regulated pathway after completing KYC.

How this affects your trading

• Check your account status. If you travel frequently, confirm your eligibility before attempting to trade; IP-based checks can block orders while you are abroad.
• Do not attempt to bypass geoblocks. VPNs or other evasion strategies are prohibited and may lead to account action.
• If you are in a close-only jurisdiction, plan exits carefully. Liquidity can be thinner for close-only operations; expect potential slippage when reducing positions.
• US residents: investigate the regulated CFTC pathway and the KYC requirements if you intend to trade legally from the United States.

If you rely on Polymarket for arbitrage strategies, geographic restrictions can materially affect which markets you can access and when. Always confirm the up-to-date restrictions on Polymarket’s official page before executing time-sensitive trades.

Where to verify and next steps

• Visit Polymarket's official restrictions page at https://polymarket.com/ to confirm the current list and read the platform’s terms.
• If you're uncertain about your status, check your account settings on Polymarket or contact their support through the official site.
• For US residents, review the platform’s CFTC-regulated pathway and KYC requirements before attempting to trade.

Closing note: Polymarket's country policies can change. Use this guide as a concise summary of the canonical restrictions provided in PolyArb's reference material and verify on Polymarket itself before trading.

Frequently asked questions

Is Polymarket legal in my country?

Polymarket's availability depends on your country. The platform blocks new orders from a list of restricted countries and places some regions on close-only. Check Polymarket's official restrictions page for the authoritative status for your country.

Can I use a VPN to access Polymarket from a blocked country?

No. Polymarket's Terms of Service prohibit VPNs and other evasion. Using them can result in account restrictions or other enforcement.

What does "close-only" mean?

Close-only means you may be allowed to reduce or close existing positions but cannot open new ones. Poland, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan have been classified as close-only in the canonical reference.

Why is the United States blocked on polymarket.com?

Polymarket blocks new orders from the United States on polymarket.com but offers a separate CFTC-regulated pathway for US users that requires KYC and compliance with US regulations.

Are OFAC-sanctioned countries blocked?

Yes. Polymarket blocks all OFAC-sanctioned countries. For the authoritative OFAC list, consult official OFAC publications.