Polymarket is not geoblocked in Colombia — the platform does not restrict Colombian IP addresses. However, the situation is complicated: Colombia’s gambling regulator Coljuegos ordered ISPs to block access in September 2025. Whether you can actually load the site depends on your internet provider. Here’s the full picture for Colombian users.
Current Status: Accessible (With Caveats)
Colombia is not on Polymarket’s official restricted countries list. The platform itself does not block Colombian users. You can create an account, deposit, and trade without restrictions on Polymarket’s end.
The complication comes from the local side. In September 2025, Coljuegos — Colombia’s gambling authority — directed Colombian ISPs to block Polymarket. The regulator’s president, Marco Emilio Hincapié, stated that the platform “does not have the necessary permits to operate online gaming in Colombia” and classified prediction markets as unauthorized gambling.
In practice, ISP-level blocks are inconsistent. Some Colombian users report full access, while others experience intermittent issues depending on their provider. The block targeted the platform’s domain rather than a full IP-level restriction.
Colombia ranks fourth in Latin America by crypto transaction volume at $44.2 billion between July 2024 and June 2025, and stablecoin purchases account for over half of all exchange activity — reflecting strong demand for dollar-denominated assets in a country with a volatile peso.
The Legal Landscape
Coljuegos and Gambling Law
Coljuegos regulates all gambling activity in Colombia. The regulator treats prediction markets identically to traditional online gambling, meaning any platform accepting bets on real-world outcomes needs a Colombian gambling license. Polymarket does not have one.
The crackdown was partly triggered by Polymarket hosting markets on the Colombian 2026 presidential election. Coljuegos opened an investigation into the platform and requested ISP blocks, making Colombia the first Latin American country to take formal action against a prediction market. Argentina followed with a similar ban in early 2026.
There have been no reported prosecutions of individual users for accessing Polymarket from Colombia. The regulatory action has been directed at the platform and ISPs, not end users.
Crypto Regulation
Colombia does not yet have a comprehensive crypto licensing law. Bill 510 of 2025, currently moving through Congress, would formalize Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licensing requirements. Key points of the current landscape:
- Crypto is not illegal in Colombia — there is no ban on buying, selling, or holding digital assets
- The Superintendencia Financiera (SFC) oversees financial institutions but has not issued specific crypto exchange licenses
- Colombian banks face restrictions on providing direct services to crypto exchanges, pushing much of the ecosystem toward P2P and alternative rails
- Bill 510 is expected to pass in late 2026, creating a formal licensing regime for exchanges, wallets, and custodians
DIAN Reporting Framework (2026)
DIAN (Colombia’s tax authority) published Resolution 240 in December 2025, establishing new crypto reporting requirements aligned with the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF):
- Crypto exchanges must report all transactions exceeding $50,000 conducted in Colombia
- Reports include account ownership, transaction volumes, market values, and balances
- The first reporting deadline is May 2027 for the 2026 tax year
- Non-compliance penalties: fines up to 1% of unreported transaction value
How to Deposit from Colombia
Colombia has a well-developed crypto exchange ecosystem with support for COP deposits via PSE (the national online payment system) and bank transfers.
Step 1: Buy USDC on a Local Exchange
| Exchange | PSE Support | Bank Transfer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitso | Yes | Yes | Free COP deposits, Spanish interface, strong LatAm presence |
| Binance | Yes | Yes | Largest global exchange, direct PSE integration |
| Buda | Yes | Yes | Chilean-founded, strong in Colombia and the Andean region |
| Wenia | Yes | Yes | Colombian-born platform, household name locally |
| Panda Exchange | Yes | Yes | Venezuelan-founded, popular in Colombia |
Recommended flow: Bitso offers fee-free COP deposits via bank transfer and processes them in under 24 hours. Binance is the alternative with the widest token selection and direct PSE support.
All exchanges require KYC verification with a Colombian ID (cédula) before you can deposit COP.
Step 2: Transfer USDC to Polymarket
- Go to Deposit on Polymarket
- Select Use Crypto and copy your deposit address
- Send USDC from your exchange to the Polymarket address
- Choose Polygon for the lowest fees ($3 minimum, arrives in seconds)
For the full walkthrough, see our How to Deposit on Polymarket guide.
Tax Implications
Colombia taxes crypto gains based on holding period and total income:
| Tax Type | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term gains (held < 2 years) | Up to 39% | Taxed as regular income based on your tax bracket |
| Long-term gains (held > 2 years) | 15% | Preferential capital gains rate |
| DIAN reporting threshold | N/A | Exchanges must report transactions over $50,000 |
Key points for Polymarket users:
- Profits from Polymarket trades are taxable in Colombia — treated as crypto gains
- You must report gains on your annual tax return, filed online with DIAN by April 30
- Keep records of every transaction — dates, COP values, amounts — for five years
- Colombia is adopting the OECD’s CARF, which means international crypto data sharing is coming
- There is no way to offset crypto losses against other income types
Given the 39% top rate on short-term gains, active Polymarket traders face a significant tax burden. Consult a Colombian tax professional familiar with crypto.
Colombia’s Crypto Adoption Context
Colombia is one of Latin America’s most active crypto markets, ranking fourth in the region by transaction volume. Several factors drive adoption:
- Peso volatility: The Colombian peso has experienced significant swings, pushing individuals and businesses toward dollar-denominated stablecoins as a store of value
- Stablecoin dominance: Over half of all exchange purchases by Colombian users are stablecoins — one of the highest ratios in Latin America
- Remittances: Colombia receives billions in annual remittances, and crypto rails offer faster, cheaper transfers than traditional corridors
- Unbanked population: A significant portion of Colombians lack full banking access, making crypto an alternative financial on-ramp
- No prediction market alternatives: Unlike India or Brazil, Colombia does not have domestic prediction market platforms. Polymarket is the primary option for Colombians interested in event trading
The combination of high crypto literacy and stablecoin familiarity means Colombian users typically find the Polymarket deposit flow straightforward — buying USDC on a local exchange is already a common activity.
Getting Started
If you’re in Colombia and want to start trading on Polymarket:
- Sign up for Polymarket — under 2 minutes, no KYC required
- Buy USDC on Bitso or Binance via PSE
- Deposit on Polymarket — transfer USDC via Polygon
- Place your first trade — start with a small amount
- Use limit orders to avoid taker fees — only taker orders pay fees on Polymarket
Related Guides
- 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