- Polymarket cracks down on VPN users who bypass geoblocks
- Merchants are asked to undergo voluntary ID checks to curb suspicious activity
- More than 30 countries have now banned or restricted the platform
Polymarket is accelerating its identity verification push and actively blocking users connecting via top VPN services as the popular prediction market faces increasing international regulatory pressure.
According to a report by the Information, “the company is making it harder to use VPNs to access its service, blocking some IPs and suspicious accounts, and asking some customers to identify themselves.”
The move marks a clear shift from the platform’s long-standing model of permissionless, anonymous trading.
While international users can still deposit USD Coin (USDC) and trade without uploading personal documents, Polymarket now strictly polices VPN use. Traders caught circumventing IP-based geoblocks risk suspension or permanent ban.
This compliance push comes as the platform navigates intense scrutiny from worldwide regulators, with over 30 countries now facing full restrictions or technical blocks on the site.
Why do users turn to VPNs?
The list of nations closing the door to Polymarket is growing fast. As reported by El País, Spain was the latest country to ban Polymarket, adding to a steady stream of jurisdictions imposing restrictions. In Latin America, Argentina previously suspended the platform’s use in March.
In India, the government recently took an aggressive stance against the betting site. Under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROGA), real money prediction markets are expressly prohibited.
To prevent users from circumventing these rules, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) ordered VPN providers to block access completely. The advisory warned that failure to comply could cost VPNs their legal “safe harbor” protection.
Polymarket already “strictly prohibits the use of VPNs or similar tools to bypass geographic restrictions,” as the company states on its website. However, that hasn’t stopped Americans from turning to VPN services to place bets on the platform, especially around the US election.
Because Polymarket falls into a regulatory gray area under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, users have used VPNs to spoof their location and connect to servers in countries where the platform is legal.
Push for identity verification
To sweeten the deal for those willing to give up their privacy, Polymarket offers incentives. Users who complete a voluntary Know Your Customer (KYC) or KYB form get perks. According to BeInCrypto, “These include direct co-location on Polymarket’s primary servers, lowering latency for active traders.”
Meanwhile, high-volume users no longer have a choice. “Traders running seven-digit positions, or rapid five-digit deposit-trade-cashout cycles, have been documented to trigger verification below internal anti-money laundering limits,” BeInCrypto reported.
For ordinary internet users, Polymarket’s new enforcement measures mean that it will become increasingly difficult to use a VPN to bypass geographical barriers. Privacy-focused traders must now weigh the loss of anonymity against the very real threat of frozen funds.
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