Open interest is the total value of shares currently outstanding and unresolved in a market at a given moment.
Understanding open interest helps you read prices and manage risk on any prediction market platform.
Example
If traders collectively hold $300,000 in unresolved YES and NO shares, that market has $300,000 of open interest.
Why it matters
Knowing how open interest works lets you compare markets and avoid costly mistakes when trading.
Practical tip
Before trading, check how open interest shows up on the specific platform you use, since interfaces and terminology can vary slightly between exchanges. Reviewing a few live markets is a quick way to see open interest in action before risking real funds.