Polymarket is accessible in Bangladesh — the platform does not geoblock Bangladeshi IP addresses. However, Bangladesh has one of the more restrictive regulatory environments for both crypto and gambling in South Asia. Despite that, the country ranks 13th globally in crypto adoption, driven by a young, tech-savvy population and a massive P2P trading ecosystem. Here’s what Bangladeshi users need to know.
Current Status: Accessible (Regulatory Risk)
Bangladesh is not on Polymarket’s blocked country list. The platform is fully accessible from Bangladeshi IP addresses. Users can sign up, deposit, and trade without restrictions at the platform level.
That said, Bangladesh presents a layered regulatory challenge:
- Bangladesh Bank has warned against all cryptocurrency transactions since 2017
- Gambling is illegal under the Public Gambling Act of 1867
- The Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 added specific penalties for online gambling (up to 2 years in prison or a Tk 1 crore fine)
- No regulator has specifically addressed prediction markets
Despite these warnings, enforcement has overwhelmingly targeted domestic gambling operators and mobile financial service agents — not individual users of overseas platforms.
How to Deposit from Bangladesh
Bangladesh has no licensed crypto exchanges. The entire crypto ecosystem operates through peer-to-peer (P2P) trading, primarily on international platforms. This is how most of the estimated 3.1 million Bangladeshi crypto holders acquire their assets.
Step 1: Buy USDC via P2P
| Platform | BDT Payment Methods | Liquidity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binance P2P | bKash, Nagad, Rocket, bank transfer | Highest | Most popular in Bangladesh |
| OKX P2P | bKash, Nagad, bank transfer | Moderate | Growing user base |
| KuCoin P2P | bKash, bank transfer | Moderate | Alternative option |
| Bitget Wallet | bKash, Nagad (bank transfer) | Growing | Launched BDT stablecoin payouts in March 2026 |
Recommendation: Binance P2P has the deepest liquidity and most BDT traders. Buy USDC (not USDT) directly — USDC is what Polymarket uses internally.
How P2P works: You place an order to buy USDC, a local seller is matched, you send BDT via bKash/Nagad/bank transfer, and the seller releases USDC to your exchange wallet. The exchange acts as escrow.
Step 2: Transfer USDC to Polymarket
- Go to Deposit on Polymarket
- Select Use Crypto and copy your deposit address
- Send USDC from your exchange wallet to the Polymarket address
- Choose Polygon for the lowest fees ($3 minimum)
Total time: 10-20 minutes depending on P2P matching speed.
For the full walkthrough, see our How to Deposit on Polymarket guide.
The Regulatory Picture
Bangladesh’s regulatory environment is restrictive on paper but loosely enforced against individual crypto users.
Bangladesh Bank (Central Bank)
- Issued warnings against crypto in 2017, citing the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (1947), the Money Laundering Prevention Act (2012), and the Anti-Terrorism Act (2009)
- Issued Warning Notice BB/CC/2025/17 in September 2025, threatening license revocation for entities facilitating crypto remittances
- Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur stated in October 2025 that “cryptocurrency has no place in Bangladesh’s remittance ecosystem”
- Focused on developing a digital taka (CBDC) rather than regulating existing crypto
Gambling Laws
- The Public Gambling Act of 1867 prohibits public gambling and operating gambling houses
- The Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 specifically criminalizes online gambling — up to 2 years’ imprisonment or a Tk 1 crore (approx. $83,000) fine
- The CID launched a nationwide crackdown on online gambling operators under this ordinance
- Horse racing remains the only legal form of betting
The Grey Area
Prediction markets occupy an undefined space in Bangladeshi law. They are not specifically addressed by any regulation — the question of whether they constitute gambling, financial derivatives, or something else entirely has not been tested. Bangladesh Bank’s restrictions target cryptocurrency transactions broadly, not prediction market participation specifically.
Reality check: Despite official restrictions, Chainalysis ranked Bangladesh 13th globally in crypto adoption, and TRM Labs ranked it 14th. An estimated 3.1 million Bangladeshis hold crypto wallets, primarily through P2P platforms. Enforcement has focused on domestic operators, not individual users of international platforms.
Tax Considerations
Bangladesh has no dedicated crypto tax framework, which creates uncertainty:
| Area | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto tax law | None specific | No legislation specifically addressing crypto taxation |
| Income tax | Potentially applicable | NBR could treat crypto gains as income under the Income Tax Ordinance of 1984 |
| Capital gains | 15% (if applied) | Standard capital gains rate that could be applied to crypto profits |
| Reporting | No crypto-specific requirements | No mandatory crypto transaction reporting exists |
Key points:
- Since crypto is not officially recognized, the tax treatment is ambiguous
- The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has not issued specific guidance on crypto gains
- In practice, most P2P crypto users in Bangladesh do not report transactions — but this could change if regulations evolve
- If you earn significant amounts, consult a local tax professional for guidance
Getting Started
If you’re in Bangladesh and want to start trading on Polymarket:
- Sign up for Polymarket — under 2 minutes, no KYC required
- Buy USDC via Binance P2P using bKash or Nagad
- Deposit on Polymarket — transfer USDC via Polygon
- Place your first trade — start with a small amount while learning
Related Guides
- All Country Guides — Check availability for every country
- Country Availability Checker — Instant status lookup for 190+ countries
- What Is Polymarket? — Full platform overview
- How to Sign Up for Polymarket — Create your account
- How to Deposit on Polymarket — Full deposit guide
- How to Trade on Polymarket — Market orders, limit orders, and tips
- Polymarket Fees Explained — Fee breakdown by category (or use the fee calculator)
- Polymarket Review 2026 — Our honest review after 2 years of trading