Polymarket launches 15-minute Bitcoin price markets on US app

Polymarket launched its “Bitcoin Up or Down” markets on its US app on September 22, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET. The product lets users wager on whether Bitcoin’s price will finish above or below a reference price at the close of each 15-minute window. Markets run continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, matching Bitcoin’s own never-sleeps schedule. How the 15-minute markets actually work The mechanics are straightforward. At the start of each 15-minute interval, the platform sets a reference price for Bitcoin. Users then take positions on whether BTC will be trading above or below that level when the window closes. Settlement is automated, and traders can cash out early if they want to lock in gains or cut losses before the clock runs out. Resolution data comes from Chainlink’s BTC/USD oracle. That’s a decentralized price feed that aggregates data from multiple sources, which helps reduce the risk of manipulation from any single exchange’s order book. For now, Bitcoin is the only asset available in this format. The platform also offers automated settlement, meaning users don’t need to manually claim winnings after each interval. A sharp pivot from election betting This is a meani...