Polymarket Setup Guide

May 12, 2026 · View on GitHub

To trade on Polymarket via the API, you need your Polygon Private Key. If you are using a Polymarket Smart Wallet (Proxy), you will also need your Proxy Address.

1. Exporting your Private Key (EOA)

This is the private key of your "Signer" wallet (the one you use to log in to Polymarket).

  1. Open the Account Menu in MetaMask.
    Click the top-left icon (or account selector) to view your accounts.
    Select Account

  2. Open Account Options (...) next to the account you want to use.
    Account Options

  3. Select Account Details.
    Account Details

  4. Reveal Private Key and unlock your wallet.
    Reveal Key

  5. Copy the Key.
    Copy Key

Most modern Polymarket accounts use a "Smart Wallet" or Proxy to hold funds. While pmxt attempts to auto-discover this address, it is more reliable to provide it manually.

  1. Go to Polymarket.com.
  2. Hover over your profile in the top right.
  3. Your Proxy Address is the address shown. It is the address starting with 0x.

3. Configuration

Add these to your .env file or pass them directly to the constructor. pmxt supports both numeric IDs and human-readable names:

POLYMARKET_PRIVATE_KEY=0x...
POLYMARKET_PROXY_ADDRESS=0x...

# Choose your account type:
# - 'deposit_wallet' (Newest accounts, post-2024 — recommended)
# - 'gnosis_safe'    (2023-era accounts)
# - 'polyproxy'      (Legacy proxy accounts)
# - 'eoa'            (Standard wallet, no proxy)
#
# If balance shows \$0 or orders fail with "maker address not allowed",
# try a different signature type.
POLYMARKET_SIGNATURE_TYPE='deposit_wallet'

4. Initialization (Python)

import os
import pmxt

exchange = pmxt.Polymarket(
    private_key=os.getenv('POLYMARKET_PRIVATE_KEY'),
    proxy_address=os.getenv('POLYMARKET_PROXY_ADDRESS'),
    signature_type='deposit_wallet'
)