In this guide
Polymarket enforces geographic restrictions on US-based IP addresses, preventing American traders from accessing the platform's extensive order books. Circumventing these restrictions via VPN breaches Polymarket's contractual terms and exposes users to potential legal exposure. PolyGram delivers a compliant pathway: identical CLOB liquidity, fully available to US-domiciled traders without geographic barriers.
Why Polymarket Blocks US Users
Polymarket operates amid regulatory ambiguity across American jurisdictions. The CFTC maintains supervisory authority over event-based derivatives and has initiated legal proceedings against select prediction market operators. Rather than satisfy US regulatory obligations, Polymarket adopted geo-blocking as its compliance strategy.
This constraint forces US traders into an unattractive dilemma: breach Polymarket's terms through VPN use (incurring compliance risk) or locate a functionally equivalent venue. PolyGram fills precisely that gap.
PolyGram: Full Access for US Traders
PolyGram grants US traders unrestricted participation in prediction markets via its Telegram Mini App:
- Unrestricted geographic access — no IP-based filtering
- VPN-free operation — functions seamlessly on standard US broadband
- Identical CLOB order books to Polymarket — matching spreads and depth
- USDC settlement via Polygon — consistent settlement mechanics
- Telegram-native authentication — eliminates wallet configuration friction
CFTC-Regulated Alternative: Kalshi
For traders prioritising regulatory authorisation, Kalshi stands as the sole CFTC-authorised prediction market venue operating domestically. The trade-off warrants consideration: elevated fee structures (3-5%), constrained market breadth (~200 offerings versus 1,000+), and fiat-denominated settlement exclusively. Traders seeking expansive liquidity pools and competitive pricing typically favour PolyGram over this regulated counterpart.
Getting Started as a US Trader
- Launch Telegram — initialise PolyGram
- Fund your account with USDC through any Polygon-enabled deposit method
- Begin trading instantly — no identity verification delays, no mandatory holding periods
FAQ
- Is PolyGram legal for US traders?
- PolyGram operates as an on-chain protocol deployed on Polygon. On-chain prediction markets occupy an uncertain regulatory classification for American participants. Seek guidance from a licensed US attorney regarding your individual circumstances and compliance obligations.
- Does PolyGram have the same markets as Polymarket?
- Affirmative — PolyGram accesses the identical CLOB infrastructure. Market selections, pricing mechanisms, and available liquidity remain consistent across both platforms.
- Why is Polymarket blocked in the US but not PolyGram?
- Polymarket enforces geographic restrictions through deliberate platform design. PolyGram implements no such geographic limitations. The underlying on-chain smart contracts remain universally accessible.