Arbitrage
Learn how Outcome and Polymarket arbitrage combine two opposite positions below their $1 resolution payout
One idea, two strategies
Arbitrage buys the same number of shares in two opposite outcomes. The labels can be Yes/No, Up/Down, or two competing teams—the important part is that one outcome pays $1.00 at resolution and the other pays $0.00.
The rule
Yes cost + No cost + estimated fees must be below $1.00 per matched pair.
Outcome
Buy both opposite outcomes on the same market and pay for both legs from your Kuest balance.
Both orders are signed separately and sent together to the Kuest CLOB.
Polymarket
Buy one outcome on Kuest and the opposite outcome on the matching Polymarket market.
Each platform needs enough balance and executable liquidity for its leg.
Compare the two strategies
Outcome arbitrage
Both legs use the same Kuest market, balance, and order book system.
One balance
The total cost of both legs, including estimated fees, must fit your available Kuest USDC balance.
Two opposite orders
The panel buys equal quantities of both outcomes—for example, 100 Up shares and 100 Down shares.
Use this strategy when both outcomes can be bought on Kuest for less than their combined $1 payout.
Polymarket arbitrage
One leg uses Kuest and the other uses the mirrored Polymarket market.
Two platform balances
The Kuest leg and Polymarket leg are limited independently by the funds available on each platform.
Opposite platforms
If Kuest buys No, Polymarket buys Yes—or the reverse—using the combination with the best executable result.
This tab appears only when Polymarket arbitrage is enabled and the market has a compatible Polymarket mirror.
The two-leg calculation
Suppose 100 matched pairs are available at these executable prices:
Yes · 42¢
100 shares × $0.42 = $42.00
No · 53¢
100 shares × $0.53 = $53.00
100 matched pairs
The formula is:
Matched shares × ($1.00 − combined executable price − fees per matched pair) = estimated profit
For the example: 100 × ($1.00 − $0.95 − $0.01) = $4.00. The displayed $1.00 estimated fees is the total for all 100 matched pairs.
The numbers above are illustrative
Always use the live quote in the order panel. It calculates the available prices across the order books, fees, balances, minimum order sizes, and the exact quantity that both legs can match.
Why the payout is the same either way
If Outcome A wins
100 Outcome A shares pay $100. Outcome B pays $0.
If Outcome B wins
100 Outcome B shares pay $100. Outcome A pays $0.
Either resolution
The matched position pays $100 in total. In the example, its estimated cost was $96.
This payout logic assumes both legs fill in equal quantities and remain held through resolution.
How to place an arbitrage trade
Open Arbitrage
Select Arbitrage in the order panel, then choose Outcome or Polymarket.
Review both legs
Confirm the outcome and executable price shown for each leg. Open the profit tooltip to review costs, estimated fees, payout, and return.
Choose the matched amount
Enter an amount or use Min, Mid, or Max. Max is limited by profitable liquidity and the balance required by both legs.
Sign both orders
Each leg requires an order signature. Outcome orders are submitted together to the Kuest CLOB; Polymarket arbitrage submits one order to each platform.
Verify and hold
Check the completion message and your positions. After both legs fill, hold the equal opposite shares through resolution and claim the winning position.
Two legs do not mean guaranteed atomic execution
Each order uses fill-or-kill execution, but the pair is not a single atomic blockchain transaction. If one leg fills and the other fails, you may temporarily hold directional exposure. Check the reported status and your positions before trying again.