Polymarket is accessible in Pakistan — the platform does not geoblock Pakistani IP addresses. With Pakistan ranking 3rd globally in crypto adoption and a population of over 15 million crypto users, the infrastructure for accessing Polymarket is well-established. Here’s what Pakistani users need to know.
Current Status: Accessible
Pakistan is not on Polymarket’s geoblocked countries list. The platform is fully accessible from Pakistani IP addresses without needing to route your connection through a different geographic location. Pakistani users can sign up, deposit, and trade.
Pakistan’s crypto ecosystem is one of the most active in the world. According to the Chainalysis 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, Pakistan ranks 3rd globally — behind only India and the United States. An estimated 15.9 million Pakistanis (roughly 6.6% of the population) hold or use crypto, driven largely by remittance needs, inflation hedging, and limited access to traditional financial products.
How to Deposit from Pakistan
Pakistan does not have licensed local crypto exchanges with direct fiat on-ramps (yet). Instead, the vast majority of Pakistani crypto users rely on peer-to-peer (P2P) trading on international exchanges. This is the standard deposit path for Polymarket.
Step 1: Buy USDC via P2P
| Platform | PKR Payment Methods | P2P Liquidity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binance P2P | Bank transfer, JazzCash, Easypaisa, SadaPay, NayaPay | Very high | Market leader, PVARA NOC holder |
| HTX P2P | Bank transfer, JazzCash, Easypaisa | High | PVARA NOC holder |
| Bybit P2P | Bank transfer, JazzCash, Easypaisa | Growing | Less verification friction |
| Bitget P2P | Bank transfer, Raast, UBL Omni | Moderate | Supports 7 crypto pairs in PKR |
| OKX P2P | Bank transfer, JazzCash, Easypaisa | Moderate | Established platform |
Recommendation: Binance P2P has the deepest PKR liquidity, the widest selection of payment methods, and has received a No Objection Certificate from Pakistan’s PVARA regulator. Buy USDC (or buy USDT first, then convert to USDC on the exchange).
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)
Total time: Approximately 10-15 minutes from P2P purchase to trading.
For the full walkthrough, see our How to Deposit on Polymarket guide.
The Regulatory Picture
Pakistan’s crypto regulatory landscape has shifted dramatically since 2025. Three overlapping frameworks are relevant to Polymarket users.
Virtual Assets Act 2026
Pakistan’s parliament passed the Virtual Assets Act in early March 2026, signed into law by President Zardari on March 7, 2026. This is the most significant development:
- Formalizes the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) as a permanent federal institution
- Requires all Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) — exchanges, wallet operators, custodians — to obtain licenses
- Unlicensed trading carries penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment or a PKR 50 million fine
- PVARA has already issued NOCs to Binance and HTX (December 2025) as a first step toward full licensing
- The law focuses on regulating exchanges and service providers, not individual users
SBP (State Bank of Pakistan)
The SBP maintains a historically cautious stance on crypto:
- Issued a 2018 circular prohibiting financial institutions from processing crypto transactions
- The SBP and Ministry of Finance have insisted the ban remains in place even as PVARA issues NOCs — creating a contradictory policy landscape
- In practice, P2P trading bypasses the banking circular since transactions appear as ordinary person-to-person transfers
Gambling Laws
Pakistan’s Prevention of Gambling Act 1977 broadly prohibits gambling. However:
- The law predates the internet and does not address online platforms
- Prediction markets have not been specifically classified by any Pakistani regulator
- There is no enforcement precedent involving prediction markets
- The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has blocked gambling apps, but has not targeted prediction market platforms
The key unresolved question: Whether prediction markets fall under PVARA (crypto regulation), the Prevention of Gambling Act (gambling), or something else entirely. Until this is tested, Polymarket operates in a regulatory grey area for Pakistani users.
Tax Considerations
Since the Virtual Assets Ordinance took effect in July 2025, Pakistan has a formal crypto tax framework:
| Tax | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Capital gains | 15% | On profits from selling crypto. Gains under PKR 50,000 are exempt. |
| Income tax (staking/mining) | 5-35% | Progressive rates based on total annual income |
| Reporting | Required | FBR expects disclosure of virtual asset holdings and transactions |
Key points:
- The 15% capital gains tax applies to Polymarket profits when you withdraw and convert crypto back to PKR
- Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has not issued detailed guidance on how prediction market activity specifically should be reported
- The Virtual Assets Act 2026 gives PVARA enforcement powers, but the licensing regime targets service providers — not individual traders
- Keep records of all deposits, trades, and withdrawals for tax reporting purposes
Getting Started
If you’re in Pakistan and want to start trading on Polymarket:
- Sign up for Polymarket — under 2 minutes, no KYC required
- Buy USDC on Binance P2P using bank transfer, JazzCash, or Easypaisa
- 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