Library/Prediction Markets Have a Semantic Tick Size
MicrostructureAnalysis

Prediction Markets Have a Semantic Tick Size

allquantor·March 19, 2026·Twitter
Prediction markets' one-cent minimum price moves create narrative overreactions that fade strategies can harvest

Why It's Worth Reading

Analyzes 600 million Polymarket orderbook datapoints, finding ~70% of one-cent price moves do not continue in the same direction. Coins 'semantic tick size' to describe how a prediction market's minimum price increment doubles as a narrative unit—each penny reads as a one-percentage-point probability change, creating overreactions that a contrarian fade strategy can profitably harvest. Frames this against Tetlock's TradeSports microstructure research, where passive limit order walls slow price discovery while impatient market orders amplify short-term noise.

Some technical background helpful

Concepts

Platforms mentioned: Polymarket

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