Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about PokéMarket prediction markets.
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Getting Started
What is PokéMarket?
PokéMarket is a prediction market platform on Solana where you bet on whether Pokémon trading card prices will exceed certain thresholds by specific dates. It uses a parimutuel betting model where winners share the total pool.
What wallets are supported?
We currently support Phantom and Solflare wallets. Both are available as browser extensions and mobile apps. We recommend Phantom for most users due to its user-friendly interface.
What currency do I need?
All bets are placed in USDC (USD Coin on Solana). You'll also need a small amount of SOL (around 0.01 SOL) to cover Solana transaction fees.
How do I get USDC on Solana?
You can purchase USDC on centralized exchanges like Coinbase or Binance and withdraw to your Solana wallet. Alternatively, use decentralized exchanges like Jupiter or Raydium to swap SOL for USDC.
Is there a minimum bet amount?
The minimum bet is $1 USDC. There's no maximum, but larger bets have more impact on the odds and may move the market.
Betting & Markets
How do prediction markets work?
Each market poses a yes/no question about a card's future price. You bet USDC on Yes or No. When the market closes, an oracle checks the actual price, and winners split the total pool proportionally to their bets.
What happens to my bet after I place it?
Your USDC is transferred to the market's smart contract vault. Your position is locked until the market resolves—you cannot cancel, withdraw, or sell your bet.
Can I change or cancel my bet?
No. Once a bet is placed, it's final. This is a fundamental aspect of parimutuel betting—all positions are locked until resolution to ensure fair payouts.
Why do the odds keep changing?
Odds reflect the ratio of bets on each side. As more people bet, the pools grow, and probabilities shift. Your potential payout depends on the final pool sizes when the market closes, not when you bet.
What's the difference between "Live" and "Ended" markets?
Live markets are still accepting bets. Ended markets have closed and either been resolved (outcome determined) or are pending resolution. You can only bet on Live markets.
Can I bet on both Yes and No in the same market?
Technically yes, but it doesn't make strategic sense. You'd be betting against yourself, and due to the fee, you'd lose money regardless of the outcome.
Payouts
How are payouts calculated?
Your payout = (Your Bet ÷ Winning Pool) × Total Pool × 0.98. You receive a proportional share of the entire pool based on your stake in the winning side, minus the 2% fee.
How do I receive my winnings?
Winnings are automatically distributed to your wallet when the market resolves. No action required on your part—just check your wallet balance after resolution!
What if I lose my bet?
If the market resolves against your position, you lose your entire bet. The losers' pool is distributed to winners. There are no partial losses—it's all or nothing.
Are there any transaction fees?
The 2% protocol fee is automatically deducted from your winnings. Since payouts are distributed automatically, you don't pay any additional transaction fees to receive your winnings.
Pricing & Oracles
Where do the card prices come from?
Prices are fetched from TCGPlayer through Switchboard oracles. Each card has a dedicated oracle feed that tracks its market price for a specific condition (Near Mint, Holofoil, 1st Edition, etc.).
What is Switchboard?
Switchboard is a decentralized oracle network on Solana. PokéMarket uses Switchboard Surge "On-Demand" pull feeds, which provide reliable, tamper-proof price data for market resolution.
What if the oracle gives a wrong price?
The oracle fetches prices directly from TCGPlayer marketplace data. If an oracle fails or returns stale data (older than the staleness threshold), the smart contract rejects resolution. In such cases, the admin can mark the market for refund.
When exactly is the price checked?
Oracle feeds are updated every 30 seconds to ensure fresh data. When the market's resolution date is reached, the system automatically resolves by reading the current oracle price and comparing it to the threshold.
What counts as the "price" of a card?
The market price for the specific condition and printing variant specified in each market. For example, "Near Mint" condition or "1st Edition Holofoil" printing. Check each market's details for the exact price definition.
Fees & Revenue
What fees does PokéMarket charge?
PokéMarket charges a 2% fee only on winners' gross payouts. There are no entry fees and no fees if you lose. The fee is automatically deducted when winnings are distributed.
Where do the fees go?
Fees are split 50/50: half goes to the protocol treasury (for development, infrastructure, and oracle costs) and half goes to a fee share pool for token holders.
What is the fee share pool?
The fee share pool accumulates 50% of all protocol fees. Token holders can claim their proportional share based on their holdings. The more tokens you hold, the larger your share of fees.
How do I claim my fee share?
Token holders can claim their proportional share of accumulated fees from the fee share pool at any time through the protocol's claim mechanism.
Security & Trust
Is my money safe?
Funds are held in audited smart contracts on Solana, not by PokéMarket directly. The protocol can't access your funds except through the defined claim/refund mechanisms.
Can PokéMarket manipulate outcomes?
No. Outcomes are determined by independent Switchboard oracles that PokéMarket doesn't control. All bets and resolutions are recorded on the blockchain for full transparency.
What happens if PokéMarket goes down?
The smart contracts on Solana continue to function. Even without the website, you can interact with the contracts directly to place bets or claim winnings.
Has the smart contract been audited?
We prioritize security and follow best practices for Solana development. Check our GitHub for the latest audit reports and security measures.
Legal & Compliance
Is this legal?
Prediction markets exist in a complex regulatory landscape that varies by jurisdiction. Users are responsible for ensuring they comply with their local laws regarding prediction markets and cryptocurrency.
Do I need to pay taxes on winnings?
Tax obligations depend on your jurisdiction. In many countries, cryptocurrency gains are taxable. Consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
Is there KYC (identity verification)?
Currently, PokéMarket operates without KYC. You connect your Solana wallet and can participate immediately. This may change based on regulatory requirements.
What data does PokéMarket collect?
We collect minimal data: your wallet address (public on blockchain anyway) and basic usage analytics. We never have access to your private keys or personal information.
Troubleshooting
My transaction failed. What happened?
Common causes: insufficient SOL for gas fees, network congestion, or wallet connection issues. Check your SOL balance, try refreshing the page, and attempt the transaction again.
I placed a bet but don't see it in my portfolio.
Blockchain data can take a few seconds to sync. Refresh the page after 10-15 seconds. If still missing, check your wallet transaction history to confirm the bet was processed.
The odds changed after I placed my bet. Is that normal?
Yes. Odds update with every bet. Your payout depends on final pool sizes when the market closes, not when you bet. This is how parimutuel betting works.
I can't connect my wallet.
Ensure your wallet extension is unlocked and on the Solana network. Try refreshing the page, disconnecting and reconnecting, or using a different browser.
How do I contact support?
Reach out on X (Twitter) @pokemarketsol or through our community channels. For technical issues, include your wallet address and transaction signatures.
Still Have Questions?
Can't find what you're looking for? Reach out to our community.