Polymarket in Hungary (2026) | Blocked — ISP Block, Legal Status & Tax Guide

Polymarket is blocked in Hungary following a reported government-level internet service provider (ISP) block. In January 2026, reports emerged that Hungarian authorities directed ISPs to block access to the platform (this report is lower confidence — it could not be independently confirmed). Importantly, this is framed as a government ISP block, not a Polymarket geoblock: unlike France or the United States, Hungary’s restriction is described as coming from the state’s network controls, not from the platform’s own compliance decision.

Polymarket is not on a “blocked list” because of any single regulator’s financial ruling here — instead, access is shaped by Hungary’s broader approach to unlicensed online gambling, which its gambling authority has historically enforced by ordering ISPs to cut access to foreign betting sites.

Current Status: Blocked (Government ISP Block)

As of January 2026, reports indicate that Hungarian ISPs block access to Polymarket at the network level. Because this is a government ISP block rather than a Polymarket-initiated geoblock, the practical situation for users depends on which network they are on and whether the block is enforced across all Hungarian ISPs.

For most Hungarian users this means Polymarket is effectively inaccessible from a standard Hungarian internet connection. The status should be treated with some caution: the January 2026 report is lower-confidence and could not be independently verified, and the practical reach of the block may vary.

This also differs from a standard platform geoblock in one important way: it is enforced by the state, not by Polymarket. Which specific law or authority directed the block — and whether it is the SZTFH (gambling), the MNB (financial/crypto), or another body — is not confirmed.

Why Hungary Blocks Polymarket

The SZTFH and Hungary’s Gambling Framework

Gambling in Hungary is regulated by the SZTFH (Szabályozott Tevékenységek Felügyeleti Hatósága — the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities), which took over gambling supervision from the tax authority in 2023. The framework is based on Act XXXIV of 1991 (the Act on Gambling Operations).

Key features of the Hungarian gambling regime:

• Online gambling is organized primarily through a state-granted concession model
• Unlicensed foreign operators have historically been placed on a blacklist and blocked
• The SZTFH has announced that it will block unlicensed operators rather than only fine them — a standing policy to cut network access to non-compliant sites
• Online casino operation is restricted to concession companies

Prediction markets are not specifically addressed in the gambling act. Under the concession model, however, any gambling-style product offered to Hungarian residents without a license is treated as unauthorized — and the SZTFH’s enforcement posture has been to block such operators at the ISP level.

The Crypto Law (MiCA Alignment)

Unlike gambling, crypto is explicitly legal and regulated in Hungary. In 2024 Hungary adopted a new Act on the Market of Crypto-Assets (the “Crypto-Asset Market Act”), aligning national law with the EU’s MiCA regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation), with key provisions taking effect in July 2025.

What this means:

• Crypto exchanges and service providers must be authorized — since July 1, 2025, offering exchange or wallet services without prior authorization is a criminal offence (with penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment)
• The MNB (Hungarian National Bank / Magyar Nemzeti Bank) is the designated financial supervisor
• Only a handful of entities hold authorization; the country’s only SZTFH-licensed crypto validator is Caduceus Zrt.
• Crypto trading itself — buying, holding, and transferring assets like USDC — remains legal for individual users

Prediction markets, however, sit in a gap: they are not clearly a regulated crypto-asset service under MiCA, and not a licensed gambling product under the SZTFH’s concession regime. That regulatory ambiguity is what allows the state to treat Polymarket as an unlicensed service while crypto trading remains lawful.

The Legal Landscape in Practice

For an individual in Hungary:

• Buying and holding crypto (including USDC) is legal and does not require a license
• Using a licensed EU exchange (MiCA CASP) is lawful and the expected on-ramp
• Prediction markets are in a grey area — not explicitly illegal for users, but the platforms that offer them are not licensed, and the state has moved to block access at the network level

The situation is primarily a restriction on access, enforced by ISPs, rather than a specific law criminalizing prediction-market use by individuals.

Hungary’s Crypto On-Ramp

Polymarket restrictions in Hungary are enforced at the network (ISP) level rather than by KYC, so accessing the platform is a practical, network-level question. If Hungary-based users did attempt to fund and trade, the realistic path is to buy USDC on a licensed EU exchange and transfer it to Polymarket. Hungarian crypto exchanges that accept EUR deposits via SEPA include:

Note: Exchange identity verification (KYC) means users would be personally identifiable on the on-ramp side. Given that Hungary’s block is a government/ISP-level action rather than a Polymarket geoblock, users should weigh the legal uncertainty and potential reputational or legal exposure before attempting to route around a state-imposed block.

Tax Implications

Hungary has one of the more favourable crypto tax regimes in Europe.

Flat 15% Crypto Tax

Since January 2022, gains from cryptocurrency are taxed at a flat 15% personal income tax (PIT) under a dedicated capital-income category. This applies when an individual realizes a gain — typically when converting crypto to fiat or using it to pay for goods or services.

• 15% PIT on crypto gains
• No social contribution (szocho) on individual crypto gains
• Gains are calculated as the difference between sale and acquisition value
• Trades must be reported on the individual’s annual personal income tax return

What This Means for Prediction Markets

If Polymarket profits were realized by a Hungarian resident, in general they would fall under this 15% capital-gains framework because the underlying asset is crypto (USDC/PUSD). However, because the platform is blocked and its legal status is unsettled, there is real uncertainty about how Hungarian tax authorities (NAV) would treat prediction-market winnings — they could alternatively be viewed as gambling or other income. In practice:

• Keep detailed records of deposits, trades, withdrawals, and fiat conversions
• Report gains on your annual tax declaration
• There is no withholding on foreign platform trades — self-reporting is your responsibility

The 15% rate is well documented; the precise treatment of prediction-market winnings under NAV is not clearly established.

Getting Started (What to Consider)

Because Hungary’s block is a government ISP block rather than a Polymarket platform decision, “getting started” is fundamentally different from an accessible country:

1. Confirm whether the platform is reachable from your connection — the January 2026 ISP block report is lower confidence, and enforcement may vary by ISP
2. Review the legal landscape — prediction markets are unlicensed in Hungary, and routing around a state-imposed block carries legal and reputational uncertainty
3. If you proceed, buy USDC on a licensed EU exchange (e.g. Bitpanda via SEPA) and transfer it to Polymarket on Polygon (lowest fees, arrives in seconds)
4. Report any gains under Hungary’s 15% flat crypto tax
5. Understand the risk — this is a state-level restriction, not a simple platform geoblock

Related Guides

• What Is Polymarket? — Learn about the platform
• Polymarket Country Availability — Check all country statuses
• How Prediction Markets Work — Understand the mechanics
• How to Deposit on Polymarket — Fund your account step by step
• Polymarket vs Kalshi — How Polymarket compares to its main competitor