Trade Prediction Markets
Quick Start
This skill enables trading on Polymarket prediction markets (YES/NO tokens) for real-world events.
Load the tools first:
Use MCPSearch to select: mcp__workbench__get_all_prediction_events Use MCPSearch to select: mcp__workbench__get_prediction_market_data Use MCPSearch to select: mcp__workbench__create_prediction_market_strategy
Basic workflow:
1. Browse markets:
get_all_prediction_events(market_category="crypto_rolling")
→ See BTC/ETH price prediction markets
2. Analyze market data:
get_prediction_market_data(condition_id="0x123...")
→ Study YES/NO token price history
3. Create strategy:
create_prediction_market_strategy(
strategy_name="PolymarketArb_M",
description="Buy YES when price <40%, sell at 55%"
)
4. Test strategy:
run_prediction_market_backtest(
strategy_name="PolymarketArb_M",
...
)
When to use this skill:
- •Trading on real-world events (elections, Fed decisions, sports)
- •Want binary outcome exposure (YES/NO)
- •Interested in probability-based trading
- •Exploring prediction market opportunities
Available Tools (6)
get_all_prediction_events
Purpose: Browse available Polymarket prediction markets
Parameters:
- •
active_only(optional, boolean): Only active events (default: true) - •
market_category(optional, string): Filter by category
Categories:
- •
crypto_rolling: Crypto price predictions (BTC >$100k in next hour?) - •
politics: Elections, policy decisions - •
economics: GDP, inflation, Fed decisions - •
sports: Game outcomes, championships - •
entertainment: Awards, box office results
Returns: List of events with names, categories, markets, condition IDs, resolution status
Pricing: $0.001
Use when: Discovering trading opportunities, browsing available markets
get_prediction_market_data
Purpose: Analyze YES/NO token price history for specific market
Parameters:
- •
condition_id(required): Polymarket condition ID - •
start_date(optional): Filter from date (YYYY-MM-DD) - •
end_date(optional): Filter to date (YYYY-MM-DD) - •
timeframe(optional): Candle timeframe (1m, 5m, 15m, 30m, 1h, 4h, default: 1m) - •
limit(optional, 1-10000): Max candles per token (default: 1000)
Returns: Market metadata, YES token price timeseries, NO token price timeseries
Pricing: $0.001
Use when: Analyzing market price history, researching token behavior, validating strategy concepts
create_prediction_market_strategy
Purpose: Generate Polymarket strategy code with YES/NO trading logic
Parameters:
- •
strategy_name(required): Strategy name (follow pattern: Name_RiskLevel) - •
description(required): Detailed requirements for YES/NO logic, exit criteria, position sizing
Returns: Complete Python PolymarketStrategy code
Pricing: Real LLM cost + margin (max $4.50)
Execution Time: ~30-60 seconds
Use when: Building new Polymarket strategies
run_prediction_market_backtest
Purpose: Test prediction market strategy on historical data
Parameters:
- •
strategy_name(required): PolymarketStrategy to test - •
start_date(required): Start date (YYYY-MM-DD) - •
end_date(required): End date (YYYY-MM-DD) - •
condition_id(for single market): Specific condition ID - •
asset(for rolling markets): Asset symbol ("BTC", "ETH") - •
interval(for rolling markets): Market interval ("15m", "1h") - •
initial_balance(optional): Starting USDC (default: 10000) - •
timeframe(optional): Execution timeframe (default: 1m)
Returns: Backtest metrics (profit/loss, win rate, position history)
Pricing: $0.001
Execution Time: ~20-60 seconds
Use when: Validating prediction market strategies
get_data_availability
Purpose: Check available data ranges for Polymarket markets
Parameters:
- •
data_type: "polymarket" or "all" - •
asset(optional): Filter by asset - •
include_resolved(optional): Include resolved markets
Returns: Data availability with date ranges
Pricing: $0.001
Use when: Before backtesting (verify sufficient data)
get_latest_backtest_results
Purpose: View recent prediction market backtest results
Parameters:
- •
strategy_name(optional): Filter by strategy - •
limit(optional): Number of results
Returns: Recent backtest records
Pricing: Free
Use when: Checking existing backtest results
Core Concepts
Prediction Market Mechanics
YES/NO Token Structure:
Event: "Will BTC exceed $100,000 by end of hour?" YES Token: - Pays $1.00 if event occurs - Pays $0.00 if event doesn't occur - Current price = Market's implied probability - Example: YES token at $0.65 = 65% implied probability NO Token: - Pays $1.00 if event DOESN'T occur - Pays $0.00 if event occurs - Current price = 1 - YES price - Example: NO token at $0.35 = 35% implied probability Total: YES price + NO price ≈ $1.00 (arbitrage if not)
How trading works:
Scenario: YES token at $0.40 Buy YES token: - Pay $0.40 now - If event occurs: Receive $1.00 (profit $0.60 = 150% return) - If event doesn't occur: Lose $0.40 (-100% return) Risk/Reward: - Risking $0.40 to make $0.60 - 1.5:1 reward:risk ratio - Need >40% win rate to break even
Market Categories
Crypto Rolling Markets (high frequency):
Type: Continuous prediction markets Frequency: Every 15m, 1h, 4h, etc. Question: "Will BTC price increase next [interval]?" Example: - 1h BTC rolling market - New market every hour - Predict if BTC closes higher than current price Use case: Short-term price speculation Trading style: Active, high frequency
Politics (event-driven):
Type: One-time events Frequency: Varies (elections, policy decisions) Timeline: Days to months until resolution Examples: - "Will candidate X win election?" - "Will bill Y pass Congress by date Z?" - "Will Fed cut rates in next meeting?" Use case: Event speculation Trading style: Position trading, hold until resolution
Economics (data release):
Type: Scheduled data releases Frequency: Monthly, quarterly Timeline: Fixed resolution dates Examples: - "Will CPI exceed 3.5% next month?" - "Will GDP growth exceed 2% this quarter?" - "Will unemployment rate decrease?" Use case: Economic data predictions Trading style: Position before release, exit at resolution
Sports (scheduled events):
Type: Game outcomes, championships Frequency: Varies by sport Timeline: Hours to months Examples: - "Will Team X win game tonight?" - "Will Player Y score >25 points?" - "Will Team Z win championship?" Use case: Sports betting alternative Trading style: Event-based positions
Strategy Types
Probability Arbitrage (mean reversion):
Concept: Buy underpriced probabilities, sell when corrected Example: - Event has ~60% true probability - YES token priced at $0.45 (implies 45%) - Buy YES (underpriced) - Sell when price reaches $0.60 (fair value) Advantages: Mathematical edge if probability estimation accurate Disadvantages: Requires good probability estimation
Trend Following (momentum):
Concept: Follow YES/NO token price momentum Example: - YES token price rising from $0.30 → $0.45 - Buy YES (momentum continuing) - Exit when momentum fades Advantages: Captures strong moves Disadvantages: Late entries, whipsaws
Mean Reversion (range trading):
Concept: Fade extreme probability movements Example: - YES token spikes to $0.85 (85% implied) - Seems too high, buy NO token ($0.15) - Exit when reverts toward mean Advantages: Profits from overreactions Disadvantages: Catching falling knives (sometimes market is right)
Event-Driven (catalyst trading):
Concept: Trade based on news/catalysts Example: - Positive news for candidate X - Buy YES token before market fully reacts - Exit after market prices in news Advantages: Early mover advantage Disadvantages: Requires fast news reaction
Rolling Markets
How rolling markets work:
BTC 1h Rolling Market: Hour 1 (12:00-13:00): - Market created at 12:00 - Question: "Will BTC close higher at 13:00 than 12:00?" - YES/NO tokens trade 12:00-13:00 - Resolves at 13:00 based on price change Hour 2 (13:00-14:00): - New market created at 13:00 - Previous market resolved - Profits/losses settled - Process repeats Strategy rolls from market to market automatically
Advantages of rolling markets:
- •Continuous trading opportunities
- •More data for backtesting (many markets)
- •Predictable resolution times
- •Suitable for algorithmic trading
Disadvantages:
- •Higher frequency = more fees
- •Requires active monitoring
- •Shorter time to resolution (less time to be right)
Polymarket Strategy Framework
Required methods:
class MyPolymarketStrategy(PolymarketStrategy):
def should_buy_yes(self) -> bool:
"""Check if conditions met for YES token purchase"""
# Return True to buy YES token
def should_buy_no(self) -> bool:
"""Check if conditions met for NO token purchase"""
# Return True to buy NO token
def go_yes(self):
"""Execute YES token purchase with position sizing"""
# Calculate position size
# Buy YES token
def go_no(self):
"""Execute NO token purchase with position sizing"""
# Calculate position size
# Buy NO token
Optional methods:
def should_sell_yes(self) -> bool:
"""Exit YES position"""
# Return True to sell YES tokens
def should_sell_no(self) -> bool:
"""Exit NO position"""
# Return True to sell NO tokens
def on_market_resolution(self):
"""Handle market settlement"""
# Called when market resolves
# Settle P&L
Best Practices
Market Selection
Choose liquid markets:
High liquidity: >$50k volume - Tight spreads - Easy entry/exit - Reliable pricing Low liquidity: <$10k volume - Wide spreads - Difficult exits - Slippage risk Recommendation: Start with high-volume markets
Prefer clear resolution criteria:
GOOD: "Will BTC close above $100k at 5pm EST on Jan 1, 2025?"
- Objective resolution source (price data)
- Specific date and time
- No ambiguity
BAD: "Will crypto have a good year in 2025?"
- Subjective ("good" is undefined)
- Ambiguous resolution criteria
- Dispute risk
Avoid ambiguous outcomes:
Check resolution source: - Data-driven (prices, scores, votes) → Good - Subjective judgment → Bad - "Community decides" → High dispute risk Research past market resolutions: - Were resolutions fair? - Any disputed outcomes? - Market maker credibility
Strategy Development
Define clear probability thresholds:
Example: Probability arbitrage strategy Entry logic: - Buy YES if price <40% (undervalued) - Buy NO if price <40% (YES >60%, overvalued) Exit logic: - Sell YES at 55% (15% profit target) - Sell NO at 55% (symmetric) - Stop loss at 25% (37.5% loss, preserve capital)
Include position sizing:
Fixed percentage: - 5% of capital per market - Max 10 simultaneous positions = 50% deployed - Conservative, predictable Kelly Criterion: - Size based on edge and odds - More aggressive, optimal growth - Requires accurate probability estimation
Set exit criteria:
Profit targets: - Sell at X% gain (e.g., 15% above entry) Time-based exits: - Close position Y hours before resolution - Avoid last-minute volatility Stop losses: - Sell if price drops below Z% (e.g., 60% of entry) - Preserve capital on wrong predictions
Risk Management
Position limits:
Per market: 5-10% of capital - Limits single-market exposure - Diversifies risk Total exposure: 50-70% of capital - Leaves cash buffer - Allows for new opportunities - Prevents overtrading
Market diversification:
Don't concentrate in one category: - 3 crypto markets - 2 politics markets - 2 sports markets → Diversified across event types Avoid: - 10 BTC rolling markets → All correlated, high concentration risk
Liquidity monitoring:
Check before entry: - Current volume - Bid/ask spread - Order book depth If liquidity drops: - May be unable to exit - Accept mark-to-market loss - Or hold until resolution
Common Workflows
Workflow 1: Exploring Rolling Markets
Goal: Find BTC rolling market trading opportunities
1. Browse crypto rolling markets:
get_all_prediction_events(market_category="crypto_rolling")
→ Lists BTC, ETH rolling markets with intervals
2. Check data availability:
get_data_availability(data_type="polymarket", asset="BTC")
→ Verify sufficient history for backtesting
3. Analyze specific market:
get_prediction_market_data(
condition_id="0x123...",
timeframe="1m",
limit=5000
)
→ Study YES/NO token price patterns
4. Identify strategy:
- YES token often overshoots (>60%)
- Mean reversion opportunity
- Buy NO when YES >65%, exit at 55%
5. Create strategy:
create_prediction_market_strategy(
strategy_name="BTCRollingMeanRev_M",
description="Buy NO token when YES >65%, exit at 55%..."
)
6. Backtest strategy:
run_prediction_market_backtest(
strategy_name="BTCRollingMeanRev_M",
asset="BTC",
interval="1h",
start_date="2024-01-01",
end_date="2024-12-31"
)
Cost: ~$2.50 ($0.003 data + $2.50 strategy creation)
Workflow 2: Event-Driven Politics Trading
Goal: Trade on election prediction market
1. Browse politics markets:
get_all_prediction_events(market_category="politics")
→ Find election markets
2. Analyze candidate X market:
get_prediction_market_data(condition_id="election_123")
→ Study YES token price leading up to election
3. Identify pattern:
- YES token very volatile
- Spikes on good news, drops on bad news
- Opportunities to buy dips, sell spikes
4. Create strategy:
create_prediction_market_strategy(
strategy_name="ElectionDipBuy_M",
description="Buy YES when price drops >15% in 24h,
sell when recovers to pre-drop level..."
)
5. Backtest (limited data for one-time events):
- May have insufficient data for thorough backtest
- Analyze manually or use similar past events
6. Trade carefully:
- Event markets have less data
- Higher uncertainty
- Start with smaller position sizes
Cost: ~$2.50
Workflow 3: Multi-Market Portfolio
Goal: Build diversified prediction market portfolio
1. Identify multiple opportunities: - BTC 1h rolling (crypto) - Fed decision (economics) - Championship game (sports) 2. Create strategies for each: - Strategy 1: BTC rolling mean reversion - Strategy 2: Fed decision probability arbitrage - Strategy 3: Sports underdog value 3. Backtest all strategies: run_prediction_market_backtest(...) for each 4. Allocate capital: - BTC rolling: 15% (more data, higher confidence) - Fed decision: 10% (one-time event, moderate confidence) - Sports: 5% (less data, lower confidence) Total: 30% deployed, 70% cash 5. Monitor performance: - Track each strategy independently - Rebalance based on results - Stop underperformers
Cost: ~$7.50 (3 strategies)
Troubleshooting
"No Prediction Events Found"
Issue: get_all_prediction_events returns empty
Solutions:
- •Try
active_only=Falseto see resolved markets - •Check different market_category
- •Markets may be temporarily unavailable
"Insufficient Market Data"
Issue: Not enough history for backtesting
Solutions:
- •Prediction markets have shorter history than crypto
- •Use shorter backtest periods (1-3 months)
- •Focus on rolling markets (more data points)
- •Some events are one-time (limited data)
"Strategy Performs Poorly"
Issue: Backtest shows losses
Solutions:
- •Prediction markets are efficient (hard to beat)
- •Check if probability estimation is accurate
- •Verify strategy logic makes sense
- •Consider fees and slippage
- •May need more sophisticated approach
Next Steps
After creating prediction market strategies:
Test thoroughly:
- •Use
test-trading-strategiesfor backtesting - •Validate on multiple markets
- •Check win rate and profit factor
Refine strategies:
- •Use
improve-trading-strategiesto refine - •Optimize thresholds and parameters
- •Test improvements
Live deployment (when supported):
- •Currently simulation only
- •Live Polymarket deployment coming soon
- •Will use
deploy-live-tradingwhen available
Summary
This skill provides Polymarket prediction market trading:
- •6 tools: Events browsing, data analysis, strategy creation, backtesting
- •Cost: $0.001 for data, $1-$4.50 for strategy creation
- •Markets: Politics, economics, sports, crypto rolling
- •Status: Simulation only (live deployment coming)
Core principle: Prediction markets trade YES/NO tokens on real-world events. Success requires accurate probability estimation and disciplined risk management.
Best practices: Choose liquid markets with clear resolution criteria, diversify across event types, use proper position sizing (5-10% per market), set profit targets and stop losses.
Current limitation: Live deployment not yet supported. Use for backtesting and strategy development. Live trading will be available in future updates.
Note: Prediction markets are efficient. Beating them consistently is difficult. Start with simulation, validate edge thoroughly before risking capital (when live deployment available).