Polymarket vs Augur

Augur was one of the first decentralized prediction market protocols, launched on Ethereum in 2018. Polymarket learned from Augur's challenges and built a more user-friendly platform on Polygon. Here is how these two decentralized prediction market platforms compare.

Feature	Polymarket	Augur
Blockchain	Polygon (Layer 2)	Ethereum (Layer 1)
Founded	2020	2015 (launched 2018)
Status	Active, growing rapidly	Largely defunct
Gas Fees	Near zero (Polygon)	High (Ethereum L1)
Liquidity	Very high	Very low (minimal activity)
UX	Polished web app	Complex DeFi interface
Copy Trading	Yes (via PredCopy)	No
Decentralization	Hybrid (CLOB + on-chain settlement)	Fully decentralized

Key Differences

•Augur was fully decentralized with on-chain resolution using REP token holders. Polymarket uses a hybrid model with a centralized order book and on-chain settlement.
•Augur suffered from high Ethereum gas fees that made small trades uneconomical. Polymarket on Polygon has near-zero transaction costs.
•Augur struggled to attract liquidity and users due to its complex interface. Polymarket offers a much more accessible trading experience.
•Augur is largely defunct with minimal trading activity. Polymarket is the dominant prediction market platform with growing volume.

Verdict

Polymarket has effectively succeeded Augur as the leading crypto-native prediction market. It solved the key problems that held Augur back — high gas fees, poor UX, and low liquidity. With PredCopy for automated copy trading, Polymarket offers a far superior experience for prediction market traders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Augur still active?

Augur v2 (Augur Turbo) is technically live but has minimal trading activity and liquidity. Most prediction market traders have moved to Polymarket.

What happened to Augur?

Augur pioneered decentralized prediction markets but struggled with high Ethereum gas fees, complex UX, and low liquidity. Multiple versions failed to gain traction, and the project is now largely inactive.

Is Polymarket more decentralized than Augur?

No, Augur was more decentralized with fully on-chain resolution. Polymarket uses a hybrid model with a centralized order book for better performance, while settling trades on-chain via Polygon.

Start Copy Trading on Polymarket

Follow top whale traders and copy their positions automatically.