General information, not financial, investment, legal, tax or betting advice · Prediction markets carry risk of loss · 18+ or the legal age in your region
Prediction MarketIndex
Prediction Market Index/Platforms/Manifold/Payments and funding
Payments and funding

Money on Manifold Markets, and why you cannot cash out

How money works on Manifold Markets, a play money prediction platform: the Mana currency, the free starting balance, why deposits and withdrawals do not work like a real money exchange, and the end of the Sweepcash program. Information, not advice.

By Morten AndersenFounder and editor · Two decades in advisory, hospitality and mediaEditorial review by Fredrik Filipsson · Last reviewed 11 March 2026

Last reviewed 11 March 2026 · Facts as of March 2026 · Illustrative editorial examples

Payments and funding

Manifold — funding.

Rated 73/100 overall. Read the full profile →

How money works on Manifold Markets, a play money prediction platform: the Mana currency, the free starting balance, why deposits and withdrawals do not work like a real money exchange, and the end of the Sweepcash program. Information, not advice.

Custody of funds
No customer cash held for trading; uses a site currency (mana).

Figures are indicative and dated. Confirm the current terms on the platform before acting.

FAQ

Questions readers keep asking.

Can I withdraw real money from Manifold?

No. As of March 2026 Manifold is play money only, and Mana cannot be converted to cash. The only real world use of Mana is donating it to charity.

Do I have to pay to start on Manifold?

No. Every new account receives M1,000 of Mana for free, which is enough to start trading right away. You earn more by trading well and participating.

Can I buy more Mana with real money?

Topping up Mana with real money has been possible, subject to the platform's current terms, but the purchase cannot be reversed into a withdrawal. Treat any money spent as spent and confirm the current prices on the platform.

What happened to Sweepcash?

Sweepcash was a real money feature launched in September 2024 and shut down on 28 March 2025. Remaining balances were converted to Mana at a rate of 100 to 1, and the platform returned to play money only.

How does the charity donation work?

You can donate Mana to charity, historically at a rate of M100 per one dollar. The rate and the supported charities can change, so confirm the current details on the platform.

Keep reading
Platform profile
Manifold Markets, rated and reviewed
All ratings
Every platform, scored
Legality
Where it is legal, state by state

Sources and where to check

This page describes Manifold as we assess it. Platform mechanics, fees, and terms change, so verify the current detail before you rely on it.

Facts as of March 2026. General information, not financial advice.