Polymarket integrates Lightning Network for direct Bitcoin deposits

Prediction market platform Polymarket is switching to direct Bitcoin deposits via the Lightning Network. The integration uses Spark, a Bitcoin protocol built specifically for payments and stablecoins. This eliminates the waiting time users previously experienced when depositing Bitcoin on the platform.

Bitcoin is available at OKX and Bybit.

From long waiting times to instant processing

Until now, Polymarket users had to be patient when depositing Bitcoin. Standard Bitcoin transactions on the blockchain require three to six confirmations, resulting in a waiting time of 10 to 60 minutes before an account is credited. Polymarket switched to regular Bitcoin deposits on the blockchain in October 2025, but that method still had that delay.

With the integration of Spark, that changes completely. The system uses so-called zero-confirmation technology, meaning funds are credited immediately as soon as the transaction is broadcast. Users no longer have to wait for multiple confirmations.

Faster and more private deposits

Spark announced via X that users can deposit Bitcoin with greater speed and privacy than the previous method offered. That is a notable combination: where speed often comes at the expense of other properties, the Spark protocol combines both advantages in a single solution.

The move is part of a broader trend in which Bitcoin is increasingly being used for payment applications beyond traditional on-chain transfers. For instance, Tether brings USDT back to Bitcoin via the RGB protocol, showing that more and more innovation is taking place on the Bitcoin network. The Bitcoin price currently stands at $62.032, a decline of 1.6% over the past 24 hours.