Getting Started#
Get trading on Seesaw in under 5 minutes. This guide walks you through connecting your wallet, understanding the interface, and placing your first trade.
Prerequisites#
You'll need:
- A Solana wallet (Phantom, Solflare, or Backpack recommended)
- SOL for transaction fees (~0.01 SOL is enough to start)
- USDC for trading
Step 1: Connect Your Wallet#
- Navigate to app.seesaw.markets
- Click Connect Wallet in the top right
- Select your wallet from the list
- Approve the connection request in your wallet
Your wallet address will appear in the navbar when connected.
Step 2: Understand the Interface#
The main trading view shows:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Price Chart | Live Pyth price feed for the asset |
| Countdown Timer | Time remaining in current market |
| Order Book | Current bids and asks |
| Order Form | Place buy/sell orders |
| Positions | Your open positions and P&L |
Step 3: Pick a Market#
Each market represents a prediction window with a configurable duration (from 60 seconds to 7 days):
- SOL/USD - Will Solana's price go up or down?
- BTC/USD - Will Bitcoin's price go up or down?
- ETH/USD - Will Ethereum's price go up or down?
Step 4: Place Your First Trade#
Buying YES Shares#
If you think the price will go UP (or stay the same):
- Select YES tab
- Enter quantity (number of shares)
- Set your limit price (in USDC, max 1.00)
- Click Buy YES
- Approve the transaction
Buying NO Shares#
If you think the price will go DOWN:
- Select NO tab
- Enter quantity (number of shares)
- Set your limit price (in USDC, max 1.00)
- Click Buy NO
- Approve the transaction
Understanding Prices#
Prices represent probability and cost:
| Price | Implied Probability | Potential Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 0.20 | 20% | 400% |
| 0.40 | 40% | 150% |
| 0.60 | 60% | 67% |
| 0.80 | 80% | 25% |
Step 5: Wait for Resolution#
After the market's duration window closes:
- The end price is captured from Pyth
- The market resolves (UP if end >= start, DOWN otherwise)
- Winning shares become redeemable for 1 USDC each
- Claim your winnings in the Portfolio tab
Step 6: Claim Winnings#
- Go to Portfolio
- Find the resolved market
- Click Claim next to winning positions
- Approve the transaction
- USDC is transferred to your wallet
Tips for Beginners#
- Start small - Trade with small amounts while learning
- Watch the countdown - Orders must be filled before market closes
- Check the spread - Tighter spreads mean better prices
- Use limit orders - Avoid paying more than you intended
- Monitor positions - Track your P&L in the Portfolio tab
Alternative: CLI#
Prefer the command line? The Seesaw CLI provides the same functionality without a browser:
# From the monorepo:
pnpm --filter @seesaw/cli exec seesaw config init-file
pnpm --filter @seesaw/cli exec seesaw market get <market-address>
Common Questions#
Q: What happens if my order doesn't fill? A: Unfilled orders are automatically cancelled when the market closes. Your funds are returned.
Q: Can I cancel an order? A: Yes, open orders can be cancelled anytime before they're filled.
Q: What are the fees? A: Taker fee is 2.0% (split: 1.5% protocol + 0.5% creator). Makers pay no fee.
Q: What if the price doesn't change? A: If end price equals start price, it resolves as UP.
Next Steps#
- Learn about market mechanics
- Explore trading strategies
- Understand the order book