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Market resolution is the process of finalizing a market’s outcome once the real-world event concludes. On Basemarket, market resolution is powered by UMA Optimistic Oracle, a decentralized smart-contract based protocol.

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How Resolution Works

Markets are resolved according to pre-defined rules specified before trading begins. You can find these rules in the market details. When a market resolves:
  • Winning shares are redeemable for $1.00 each.
  • Losing shares become worthless.
  • Trading is no longer possible.

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Resolution Process

  1. Event Occurs - The real-world event happens or the deadline passes.
  2. Outcome Verified - The result is verified against the market’s resolution source.
  3. Outcome Proposed - A proposer proposes the outcome, placing a bond that will be forfeited should the proposal be incorrect.
  4. Challenge Window Begins - A timed challenge window begins (typically 2 hours, however, can be as short as a few minutes), under which the proposed outcome can be disputed.
  5. Market Resolved - If no dispute occurs, the market is officially finalized to the correct outcome.
  6. Shares Settled - Winning positions become redeemable.
Timeline: Certain markets may resolve within minutes of their conclusion. A majority of markets are resolved within 24 hours after the conclusion of the event.

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Resolution Sources

Each market specifies an objective source used to determine the outcome. Common sources include:
  • Official Data - Government agencies, regulatory bodies.
  • Major News Outlets - Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg, BBC.
  • Sports Statistics - ESPN, official league websites.
  • Blockchain Data - On-chain data from block explorers.
  • Financial Data - Stock exchanges (eg. NYSE, Nasdaq), Crypto exchanges (eg. Coinbase, Binance, Hyperliquid).

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Example Resolution Criteria

Bitcoin Price Market:
  • Source: Coinbase.
  • Resolves YES if spot BTC ≥ $150,000 at 11:59:00 PM ET on Coinbase Exchange on December 31, 2025.
Election Market:
  • Source: Associated Press official race call.
  • Resolves to the candidate declared winner by AP.
Sports Market:
  • Source: ESPN official box score.
  • Resolves YES if Lakers score > Warriors score (including overtime).

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Invalid Resolutions

In rare cases, a market may resolve as invalid (N/A) if:
  • The event is cancelled with no alternative specified.
  • The resolution source is permanently unavailable.
  • The outcome is genuinely indeterminate per market rules.
Rare Occurrence: Invalid resolutions are extremely rare because markets are designed with clear, objective criteria.

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Disputing Resolutions

If you believe a market was resolved incorrectly, you can submit a dispute. See Market Dispute for details on the dispute process.

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Before Trading

Always review a market’s resolution criteria before trading:
  • Understand how the outcome will be determined.
  • Verify the resolution source is reliable and objective.
  • Check for any special conditions or edge cases.
  • Ensure you agree with the specified criteria.