Custodial
River manages everything for you. We create the exchange accounts, set up the wallets, and execute trades on your behalf. You don’t need your own Kalshi account or Polymarket wallet. Custodial accounts also allow for leverage.Hands-off trading
No exchange accounts or wallets to manage
Leverage
Access leverage on your positions
Non-Custodial
You bring your own exchange account. Connect your Kalshi API key or Polymarket wallet, and River tracks your positions. Your funds stay on the exchange — we never touch them.Full control
Your keys, your funds
Direct access
Manage funds directly on the exchange
Comparison
| Custodial | Non-Custodial | |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds funds | River | You |
| Deposits | Card / bank transfer | On the exchange directly |
| Withdrawals | Request through River | On the exchange directly |
| Exchange credentials | We set them up | You provide your own |
| Leverage | Yes | No |
| Best for | People who want it simple | People who want full control |
Each user can have multiple subaccounts of either type. See Subaccounts for how to create and manage them.