Polymarket CLI

TL;DR: Polymarket CLI is one of the fastest ways to run prediction-market workflows from a terminal. It is ideal for scanning markets, evaluating odds, and executing small, rule-based trades with an AI agent. The edge comes from process quality: clear market selection criteria, strict sizing, and consistent journaling.

What Polymarket CLI Is Best At

Polymarket CLI is best when you need:

• Fast market discovery from a terminal
• Repeatable command-based workflows instead of manual clicking
• Agent-assisted analysis where your AI can run tools and summarize findings
• A clean bridge from idea to execution in one environment

If you are new to the broader model, see What Is CLI Trading?.

Why Traders Use It

Prediction markets are decision markets. You are pricing probabilities under uncertainty. In that environment, operational speed and consistency matter.

Polymarket CLI helps by making your workflow:

1. Queryable: you can fetch active markets quickly
2. Comparable: you can evaluate multiple markets with the same criteria
3. Executable: you can place orders without UI overhead
4. Auditable: commands and outcomes are easier to log and review

Setup Checklist (Before First Trade)

1) Install and verify

brew install polymarket
polymarket --version

2) Confirm account and wallet configuration

Make sure you can:

• Read your balance
• Read your portfolio
• Fetch market details reliably

3) Start in small-size mode

For first sessions, cap total exposure per trade (example: $10-$50).

4) Add an execution gate

In your agent prompts, require explicit confirmation such as EXECUTE before placing any order.

High-Value Commands

Command names and flags vary by version, but the workflow pattern is stable.

# Discover high-activity markets
polymarket markets list --sort volume --limit 25

# Narrow to a specific topic
polymarket markets search "ai" --active

# Inspect one market deeply
polymarket market info --id <market_id>

# Review your exposure
polymarket portfolio --address <wallet_address>

# Place an order (example structure)
polymarket trade --market <market_id> --side yes --amount 25

Use command help for your installed version when needed:

polymarket --help
polymarket markets --help

A Practical Agent Workflow

Use this sequence for more reliable outcomes:

1. Scan top markets by liquidity
2. Filter to markets with clear resolution language
3. Evaluate thesis and anti-thesis
4. Propose a tiny position with explicit max loss
5. Require manual confirmation before execution
6. Log the decision and outcome

Example prompt template:

Analyze the top 10 active Polymarket markets and return a table with:
- title
- yes/no prices
- volume
- resolution clarity score (1-5)
- one-sentence risk note
Then propose at most one small trade with max risk <= $25.
Do not execute without my explicit EXECUTE confirmation.

Risk Controls That Matter Most

For prediction markets, these controls do most of the work:

• Resolution clarity filter: skip ambiguous market wording
• Liquidity filter: avoid low-liquidity markets with large slippage
• Size cap: fixed maximum position size per idea
• Inversion check: require strongest argument against your position
• Post-trade journal: log thesis, invalidation, and what you learned

Without these controls, terminal speed can amplify bad decisions.

When to Use CLI vs MCP for Polymarket

Use Polymarket CLI when:

• You want universal terminal compatibility
• You prefer shell-based scripting and pipelines
• You are exploring rapidly

Use Polymarket MCP Server when:

• You want typed tool calls and structured responses
• You are running high-reliability agent workflows
• You are executing within MCP-native agent environments

For most advanced users, the best approach is hybrid.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely Cause	Fast Fix
command not found: polymarket	install/path issue	reinstall and restart shell
Market output is incomplete	connectivity or unsupported flags	re-run with simpler command and check --help
Agent proposes random trades	prompt too open-ended	enforce structured output + risk constraints
Slippage feels high	low-liquidity market	raise liquidity threshold and reduce size

Who Should Use Polymarket CLI

• Prediction market traders who want speed with discipline
• Research operators who run idea screens daily
• Agent-first traders building terminal workflows
• Builders designing market-analysis automations

Related Reading

• Your First CLI Trade
• CLI vs MCP: When to Use Which
• Polymarket MCP Server

Last verified: February 2026