Resolution criteria on PolyGram: This market will resolve to "Yes" if at least one inmate is officially held at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary on Alcatraz Island by December 31, 2026, 11:59 PM ET. Otherwise, this market will resolve to "No". The inmate must be detained by the U.S. federal government as part of a formal correctional or detention program. Temporary holds of less than 24 hours or symbolic events will not count. The resolution source will be a consensus of credible reporting.
PolyGram is an on-chain prediction market where you trade YES or NO outcome shares with real USDC on Polygon. For this market, buy YES if you believe the event will happen, or NO if you think it won't. Your maximum loss is your stake — winning shares pay $1.00 each at resolution. Unlike sportsbooks, there is no house edge: prices are set by supply and demand from other traders and reflect the crowd's real-time probability.
Market outcomes
| Alcatraz reopened in 2026? | 8% YES | 92% NO |
The question centres on whether the federal government will reopen Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary as an active detention facility by the end of 2026. The island prison, located in San Francisco Bay, closed in 1963 and has operated as a National Historic Landmark and tourist attraction for decades. Reopening would require substantial federal investment, legislative approval, and operational restructuring—a reversal of nearly six decades of policy. The current order book on Polymarket prices this outcome at 8%, reflecting the market's assessment that such a reversal remains unlikely within the specified timeframe.
Historical precedent suggests caution about prison reopenings. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has occasionally reactivated closed facilities, but Alcatraz presents unique constraints: its remote island location, deteriorated infrastructure, high operational costs, and protected historic status create substantial barriers. No comparable federal penitentiary has been brought back into active service from tourist-site status. The 8% probability reflects these structural obstacles whilst acknowledging non-zero possibility of extraordinary circumstances.
Traders should monitor federal prison capacity announcements, congressional appropriations discussions, and any Department of Justice statements regarding facility utilisation. Recent reporting on federal prison overcrowding could theoretically create pressure for new capacity, though Alcatraz remains an inefficient solution. Legislative action would be required to redesignate the site, and no such proposals have gained traction. The settlement window extends through 2026, providing roughly two years for any such reversal to materialise—a compressed timeline given the bureaucratic and infrastructural requirements involved.
Resolution is handled by the UMA optimistic oracle on Polygon. A proposer submits the outcome, a two-hour dispute window opens, and if no one stakes a counter-claim the payout is final. Contested outcomes escalate to UMA token-holder voting. Payouts clear in USDC to the winning side.
The mechanics for trading "Alcatraz reopened in 2026?" are the same as any other PolyGram event contract. Each YES share resolves to $1 if the event happens, or $0 if it doesn't. The current price between 0¢ and 100¢ is the market's probability estimate, set live by the order book.
$1K in lifetime turnover and $4K of resting liquidity puts this market in the below the median by volume for prison contracts on PolyGram. Order-book depth is thin — large orders may need to be split across the book or executed as limit orders.
The market has been open for around a month — fresh enough that information asymmetry remains a real factor.
Higher-volume markets tend to have tighter spreads and faster price discovery — meaning the displayed YES/NO percentages are more likely to reflect the true crowd-implied probability rather than a single trader's directional view.
As of today, traders on Polymarket price this outcome at 8%. The number updates continuously as the order book clears. PolyGram mirrors the same live odds with locale-aware formatting and USDC settlement.
Resolution is handled by the UMA optimistic oracle on Polygon. A proposer submits the outcome, a 2-hour dispute window opens, and if uncontested the payout is final. Contested outcomes escalate to UMA token holders.
This prediction market is scheduled to close on 31 December 2026. After the resolving event occurs, settlement typically clears within 24 hours once the UMA optimistic oracle confirms the outcome. All payouts are in USDC on the Polygon network.
To trade on this prediction market, create a free PolyGram account at polygram.ink, deposit USDC via Polygon, and place a YES or NO order on the outcome you believe in. You can learn more on our how-it-works page. Your maximum loss is limited to your stake — there is no leverage or margin.
When the outcome is determined, winning YES shares pay out $1.00 each in USDC, while losing shares pay $0. Settlement is handled by the UMA optimistic oracle on Polygon — a proposer submits the result, a two-hour dispute window opens, and if uncontested, payouts are distributed automatically. You can withdraw your winnings to any Polygon wallet.
Prediction-market positions can lose 100% of staked capital. Outcomes are uncertain by definition — historical accuracy of crowd-implied probabilities is high in aggregate but not for any single market. PolyGram does not provide investment advice. Trade only with capital you can afford to lose.
Regulatory status varies by jurisdiction. Germany, the United States, and most EU countries treat Polymarket-style event contracts under one of three frameworks: financial derivative, gambling product, or unregulated novel asset. Consult local counsel before trading.
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