Chainlink Powers Faster Crypto Prediction Markets on Polymarket

• Chainlink is enabling Polymarket to launch a new 5-minute crypto market, allowing users to predict whether Bitcoin’s five-minute candles close up or down.
• Polymarket trading volume reached $3.4B in January and $4.9B so far in 2026 as speculation on a $POLY token airdrop rises.

Chainlink has become a central part of Polymarket’s latest upgrade as the prediction platform launches new 5-minute crypto markets. The update arrives during a period of rapid growth for the protocol and coincides with increasing speculation about a future $POLY token. The shorter markets allow users to trade on whether Bitcoin’s five-minute candles will close up or down. Liquidity providers also receive market maker rebates as part of the product design.

Polymarket, which recently expanded to Solana, has continued to attract traders who prefer short settlement periods. The launch followed token speculation sparked by Polymarket’s trademark filing for the $POLY ticker. 

Trading activity on the platform has surged, with more than $3.4 billion processed in January, matching the total amount the platform recorded in its first three years. So far in 2026, Polymarket, after receiving full CFTC approval in the US, has cleared $4.9 billion in cumulative volume. The company’s most recent funding round placed its valuation at $9 billion following a $2 billion investment led by Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange.

Chainlink Data Streams Strengthen Short-Duration Markets

The new 5-minute markets build on the structure used in Polymarket’s existing 15-minute markets. The mechanics will not change, allowing users to move between either duration without changing their normal trading process. The shorter format increases the number of outcomes during volatile periods, which creates a need for reliable real-time pricing.

Both the 5-minute and 15-minute markets use Chainlink data streams to provide price updates from major trading venues. The system, as a result, covers hundreds of cryptocurrency pairs and is built to lower the risk of delays during fast crypto market swings. This structure is aimed at preserving data accuracy when trades settle within minutes.

Polymarket said the product relies on an oracle-based resolution method that supports rapid settlement without reducing data quality. The approach is meant for users who open and close positions at a fast pace, as inaccurate references can create errors in short-interval trading.

Chainlink’s involvement extends beyond price feeds. As CNF reported, the network has expanded its interoperability and oracle standards across 12 blockchains and eight services. Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov was also recently appointed to the CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee, which Ripple co-founder (also a member) dubbed the “Olympics crypto roster” as we reported.

At press time, the Chainlink (LINK) price was up 6.5% to trade at $8.98.