Why Maker Rebates?
15-minute markets move quickly. When liquidity is deeper:- Spreads tend to be tighter
- Price impact is lower
- Fills are more reliable
- Markets are more resilient during volatility
How Maker Rebates Work
- Paid daily in USDC: Rebates are calculated and distributed every day.
- Performance-based: You earn based on the share of liquidity you provided that actually got taken.
Funding
Maker Rebates are funded by taker fees collected in 15-minute crypto markets. These fees are redistributed to makers who keep the markets liquid.Polymarket collects taker fees only in 15-minute crypto markets. These fees are distributed as maker rebates.
Taker Fee Structure
How Fees Are Charged
Fees are deducted from the proceeds of your trade (what you receive):| Action | You Pay | You Receive | Fee Taken From |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUY | USDC | Tokens | Tokens |
| SELL | Tokens | USDC | USDC |
Fee Amount vs Effective Rate
There’s an important distinction:- Fee amount (in units): Highest at 50% probability, lowest at extremes
- Effective fee rate (as % of trade): Depends on whether you’re buying or selling
The graph above shows the fee amount curve, which peaks at 50%. But the effective percentage you pay depends on whether you’re buying or selling — see the tables below.
Buying Fees (100 shares)
When you buy, the fee is deducted in tokens. The effective rate peaks at 50% probability.| Price | Trade Cost | Fee (tokens) | Fee Value | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10 | $10 | 0.20 | $0.02 | 0.2% |
| $0.20 | $20 | 0.64 | $0.13 | 0.6% |
| $0.30 | $30 | 1.10 | $0.33 | 1.1% |
| $0.40 | $40 | 1.44 | $0.58 | 1.4% |
| $0.50 | $50 | 1.56 | $0.78 | 1.6% |
| $0.60 | $60 | 1.44 | $0.86 | 1.4% |
| $0.70 | $70 | 1.10 | $0.77 | 1.1% |
| $0.80 | $80 | 0.64 | $0.51 | 0.6% |
| $0.90 | $90 | 0.20 | $0.18 | 0.2% |
Selling Fees (100 shares)
When you sell, the fee is deducted in USDC. The effective rate peaks around 30% probability.| Price | Proceeds | Fee (USDC) | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10 | $10 | $0.20 | 2.0% |
| $0.20 | $20 | $0.64 | 3.2% |
| $0.30 | $30 | $1.10 | 3.7% |
| $0.40 | $40 | $1.44 | 3.6% |
| $0.50 | $50 | $1.56 | 3.1% |
| $0.60 | $60 | $1.44 | 2.4% |
| $0.70 | $70 | $1.10 | 1.6% |
| $0.80 | $80 | $0.64 | 0.8% |
| $0.90 | $90 | $0.20 | 0.2% |
Why is selling more expensive? When buying, the fee is valued at the token price (e.g., 1.56 tokens × 0.78). When selling, the fee is taken directly in USDC ($1.56). Same fee units, different dollar impact.
Fee Precision
Fees are rounded to 4 decimal places. The smallest fee charged is 0.0001 USDC. Anything smaller rounds to zero, so very small trades near the extremes may incur no fee at all.FAQ
How do I qualify for maker rebates?
How do I qualify for maker rebates?
Place orders that add liquidity to the book and get filled (i.e., your liquidity is taken by another trader).
When are rebates paid?
When are rebates paid?
Daily, in USDC.
How are rebates calculated?
How are rebates calculated?
Rebates are proportional to your share of executed maker liquidity in each eligible market.
Where does the rebate pool come from?
Where does the rebate pool come from?
Taker fees collected in eligible markets are allocated to the maker rebate pool and distributed daily.
Which markets have fees enabled?
Which markets have fees enabled?
Currently, only 15-minute crypto markets have taker fees enabled.
Is Polymarket charging fees on all markets?
Is Polymarket charging fees on all markets?
No. Polymarket is collecting taker fees only on 15-minute crypto markets. All other markets remain fee-free.
Do makers earn less for trades at price extremes?
Do makers earn less for trades at price extremes?
Yes. The rebate pool is funded by taker fees collected. Since taker fees are lower at price extremes, the rebate pool is smaller for those trades.
For API Users
If you trade programmatically, you’ll need to update your client to handle fees correctly.Developer Guide: Maker Rebates
Technical documentation for handling fees in your trading code