Dec. 27, 2025
While Polymarket has made a triumphant, regulated return to the United States, the situation in the United Kingdom remains a complex “wait-and-see” game. For the “Polymarket Bro” community in London or Manchester, the platform currently occupies a unique legal grey zone that requires a nuanced approach to access and security.
As of late December 2025, here is the state of play for using Polymarket in the UK.
The Current Legal Status: The FCA and Binary Options
The primary hurdle for Polymarket in the UK isn’t necessarily cryptocurrency—it’s the nature of the contracts.
- The Retail Ban: Since 2019, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has maintained a ban on the sale of “bina…
Dec. 27, 2025
While Polymarket has made a triumphant, regulated return to the United States, the situation in the United Kingdom remains a complex “wait-and-see” game. For the “Polymarket Bro” community in London or Manchester, the platform currently occupies a unique legal grey zone that requires a nuanced approach to access and security.
As of late December 2025, here is the state of play for using Polymarket in the UK.
The Current Legal Status: The FCA and Binary Options
The primary hurdle for Polymarket in the UK isn’t necessarily cryptocurrency—it’s the nature of the contracts.
- The Retail Ban: Since 2019, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has maintained a ban on the sale of “binary options” to retail consumers. Because Polymarket contracts settle at either $1.00 or $0.00, they are often classified under this restricted category.
- The Property Act 2025: On a positive note, the UK recently passed the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Act 2025, which officially recognizes digital assets like those traded on Polymarket as personal property. This provides a clearer legal framework for ownership disputes but doesn’t yet override the FCA’s specific trading restrictions.
How UK Users are Accessing Polymarket Today
Because the UK is currently a restricted region, users often encounter a “view-only” mode. To interact with the Polymarket exchange, traders typically follow these steps—though it is important to note that using a VPN to bypass geo-blocks is a violation of the Polymarket Terms of Service and carries the risk of account suspension.
1. Secure a Reliable VPN Traders use high-tier VPNs (like NordVPN or Surfshark) to connect to servers in Polymarket-supported regions such as Germany, the Netherlands, or Brazil. This masks the UK IP address and unlocks the trading interface.
2. Non-Custodial Wallet Setup Instead of using the integrated email login (which may trigger stricter KYC), most UK-based users connect via a decentralized wallet like MetaMask or Phantom. This keeps your Polymarket identity tied to a blockchain address rather than a physical one.
3. The Polygon Network & USDC Polymarket runs on the Polygon network. To trade, you must send USDC to your wallet specifically via the Polygon chain. UK users typically buy USDC on a regulated exchange like Kraken or Coinbase and then “withdraw” it to their MetaMask using the Polygon network to avoid massive Ethereum gas fees.
The 2026 Outlook: Is an Official UK Launch Coming?
There is light at the end of the tunnel for British Polymarket fans. The FCA has announced that its new “cryptoasset regime” will be finalized in early 2026.
- VASP Licensing: Similar to the QCX acquisition in the US, Polymarket (or its parent company) would likely need to register as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) or partner with a UK-licensed firm to offer “event contracts” legally.
- Institutional Pressure: With the NYSE-parent (ICE) investing $2 billion into the platform, there is significant institutional pressure to bring the Polymarket data feed into London’s financial markets.
Risk Warning for UK Traders
If you choose to use Polymarket from the UK via a VPN:
- Forfeiture Risk: If the platform detects a VPN and flags your account, your winnings could be frozen.
- Taxation: In the UK, gambling winnings are generally tax-free. However, because Polymarket is an unregulated prediction market, HMRC may view your profits as Capital Gains or Income, especially if you are trading professionally for your “Polymarket Bro” channel.
Summary Checklist for UK Access
- VPN: Set to a supported EU or South American country.
- Wallet: Non-custodial (MetaMask/Phantom).
- Currency: USDC (on Polygon).
- Status: Restricted/Grey Market (pending 2026 FCA regime).
To explore the latest markets or check your region’s status, visit the Polymarket official site.