Polymarket starts charging: 15-minute markets with a maximum 3% fee, the commercialization inflection point of prediction markets

Polymarket official documentation adds a new trading fee page, clearly stating that a fee mechanism will be implemented in the 15-minute crypto price movement markets, charging up to 3% taker fees. This is an important business adjustment for this leading prediction market platform and also reflects the industry’s shift from free exploration to commercial operation.

Specific Adjustments to the Fee Policy

According to the official documentation, Polymarket will soon implement a fee mechanism in the 15-minute crypto price movement markets. This means that users trading in these short-term markets will face a maximum 3% taker fee. Although the details of fee tiers under different conditions are not specified, the “up to 3%” figure is already quite significant, enough to materially impact short-term trading returns.

The reason this move is noteworthy is that Polymarket previously adopted a free or low-cost model in most markets. The transition from free to paid signifies that the platform is moving from a growth phase focused on user acquisition to a new stage of monetization.

Why Charge for Short-Term Markets

The uniqueness of short-term markets

The 15-minute crypto price movement markets are among the most active and have the highest participation on Polymarket. These markets are characterized by short cycles, frequent trading, and many participants, which means:

• High trading volume from users, generating substantial platform revenue even with low fees
• Short-term traders are usually more sensitive to fees but are also more easily attracted by tiny fee differences to other platforms
• These markets have relatively controllable risks, with limited user losses

Commercial considerations

According to the latest data, the prediction market industry has formed a clear competitive landscape by the end of 2025. Polymarket and Kalshi are ranked as industry leaders, but new entrant Opinion has already matched their trading volume by December 2025, forming a tripartite competition. Under such competitive pressure, Polymarket needs to enhance profitability through monetization.

Meanwhile, the recent cooperation between PRCL and Polymarket has attracted market attention, with PRCL rising 84% to $0.037 on January 5. This indicates growing market expectations for Polymarket’s ecosystem expansion and commercialization.

Potential Market Impact

Impact on trading behavior

A 3% fee impacts different traders in various ways. For users who are long-term bullish on a particular direction, a 3% cost may not be a primary concern. But for short-term traders relying on tiny arbitrage spreads and frequent trades, this fee could alter their trading strategies.

This may lead to decreased trading activity in short-term markets but also filter out traders with genuine informational advantage or analytical skills.

Changes in platform revenue

If trading volume in the 15-minute markets remains stable, a 3% fee could generate significant additional revenue for Polymarket. However, a more realistic scenario is that the fee might cause some traders to shift to other free or low-fee platforms. The net effect depends on price sensitivity and user stickiness.

Industry Background: Insider Trading Scandal Accelerates Commercialization

It is worth noting that this fee policy adjustment occurs against the backdrop of Polymarket’s insider trading controversy triggered by the Maduro incident. In recent days, prediction markets have come under scrutiny from the US Congress due to insiders placing large bets before political events. US Representative Ritchie Torres even proposed the “2026 Financial Prediction Market Public Honesty Act.”

Under such regulatory pressure, Polymarket’s move toward monetization may have two implications: first, to enhance platform professionalism and barriers through fees; second, to generate revenue to support future compliance costs.

Summary

Polymarket’s fee policy adjustment marks the industry’s shift from rapid growth to mature commercialization. In the short term, a 3% fee will change user trading behavior and may lead to adjustments in trading patterns. In the long term, it reflects the platform’s facing commercialization pressures and regulatory challenges.

For users, this requires re-evaluating trading costs on Polymarket. For the industry, this could trigger other platforms to follow suit or become a differentiating factor for new entrants. The competitive landscape of prediction markets is accelerating its evolution.