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Automated Polymarket Bot Targets Non-Sports Markets

Hacker News •
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A novel Python bot named nothing_happens automates bets on Polymarket's non-sports yes/no markets, consistently purchasing "No" positions below a set price threshold. Designed for entertainment purposes only, the tool scans standalone markets, tracks open positions via a dashboard, and employs a nothing_happens strategy to exploit perceived inefficiencies. Heroku-deployed instances require strict configuration: environment variables like BOT_MODE=live and DRY_RUN=false must align to enable live trading, while missing parameters default to PaperExchangeClient simulations. The project emphasizes technical rigor, with unit tests and deployment scripts ensuring reliability.

The bot's runtime relies on config.json for non-sensitive settings and .env for secrets, including PRIVATE_KEY and POLYGON_RPC_URL for wallet operations. Developers can override config paths via CONFIG_PATH. Live mode demands DATABASE_URL and FUNDER_ADDRESS for transaction approvals. Safety protocols prevent accidental trades without explicit environment variable combinations. A dashboard binds to $PORT or DASHBOARD_PORT for real-time monitoring.

Technical safeguards include scripts like db_stats.py for database inspection and parse_logs.py for log analysis. The repository excludes sensitive files via .gitignore, protecting ledgers and deployment artifacts. Heroku workflows use dyno scaling (web=1, worker=0) to isolate bot operations, with worker processes intentionally disabled to avoid interference.

This tool highlights growing interest in automated market strategies, though its explicit disclaimer underscores risks in algorithmic trading. By targeting non-sports markets—where human activity is sparse—the bot reflects experimentation with Polymarket's mechanics beyond traditional use cases. Technical specifics, such as the nothing_happens strategy and Heroku deployment blueprint, offer insights into bot architecture for developers exploring similar projects.