KEYTAKEAWAYS
- Alex Honnold will free solo climb the 508-meter Taipei 101 on January 24, 2026, with the entire ascent broadcast live on Netflix.
- Prediction markets on Polymarket have attracted over $310,000 in bets, with most traders expecting a 75–90 minute completion time.
- The event blends extreme sports, global media, and blockchain-based forecasting into a single high-profile spectacle.
CONTENT
Alex Honnold attempts a historic free solo climb of Taipei 101, streamed live on Netflix, as prediction markets on Polymarket wager on whether he can reach the top within 90 minutes.
American legendary free solo climber Alex Honnold is set to push the limits of human achievement once again — but this time, the stage is not the towering granite walls of Yosemite, but the iconic Taipei 101 rising from the heart of the city. On January 24, 2026, Honnold will attempt to free solo climb the 508-meter skyscraper’s exterior, with the entire ascent broadcast live worldwide via Netflix in a special titled Free Solo Taipei 101: Live (Skyscraper Live).
Prediction markets are also closely watching the event. On Polymarket, total wagers have surpassed $310,000, with the most popular betting window forecasting a completion time between 1 hour 15 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes.
FREE SOLO CLIMBING 101 FLOORS: HONNOLD TAKES ON THE CITY SKYLINE
Alex Honnold, the legendary American free solo climber, is set to challenge the limits of human endurance once again. Best known for his historic 2017 ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite—where he climbed the nearly 900-meter Freerider route without ropes or safety gear, a feat often described as sacred ground in the climbing world—Honnold later rose to global fame through the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo.
This time, the challenge shifts from natural granite walls to an urban landmark. His upcoming climb of Taipei 101 not only approaches the scale of his previous career-defining achievements, but also marks his first attempt to free solo one of Asia’s tallest skyscrapers, entirely without ropes or protective equipment.
According to the plan, Alex Honnold will begin his ascent from ground level, climbing upward along the skyscraper’s glass curtain walls, steel framework, and concrete exterior. The route spans all 101 floors, with no safety lines or mechanical assistance—completed solely by hand and foot from start to finish.
All Eyes on the Climb: Live on Netflix, with Public Screening in Xinyi
Titled Free Solo Taipei 101: Live, the broadcast will air at 9:00 a.m. Taiwan time on January 24, with an expected runtime of approximately two hours. In addition to the global livestream on Netflix, a large public screen will be set up at Xinyi Plaza across from Taipei 101, allowing spectators to watch the event for free without a Netflix subscription.
The live show will also feature commentary from five special guests, including fellow climber Emily Harrington, science YouTuber Mark Rober, and professional wrestling star Seth Rollins. Their insights will offer viewers a deeper, multi-dimensional understanding of both the technical difficulty and the broader significance of this unprecedented urban ascent.
PREDICTION MARKETS GO WILD: “HOW FAST WILL HONNOLD REACH THE TOP?”
Even before the climb begins, the challenge has already sparked intense global attention. On the blockchain-based prediction platform Polymarket, a dedicated market has emerged asking a single question: How long will Alex Honnold take to climb Taipei 101?
As of January 21, total trading volume on the market has exceeded $310,000. The most popular outcome—backed by 37% of participants—predicts that Alex Honnold will complete the climb within 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. The second-most favored window is 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, accounting for 20% of bets.
Only 4% believe he can finish in under 1 hour, while 5% are betting on a failed attempt.
These forecasts not only reflect market expectations around Honnold’s physical endurance and risk tolerance, but also highlight the extraordinary level of international attention surrounding this extreme urban ascent.
✏️ Clear Rules for Success—or Failure
According to the prediction market’s settlement rules, whether the climb is considered “completed” depends on whether Honnold finishes the officially designated route as defined by the broadcast.
If the program defines completion as reaching the 101st floor, then the climb is considered successful once Alex Honnold arrives there. If the endpoint is defined as the top of the spire, he must reach the very summit for the attempt to count as completed.
Conversely, the climb will be ruled “not completed” under any of the following conditions: the event is postponed beyond January 31, Honnold voluntarily abandons the climb, is forced to enter the building mid-ascent, or fails to reach the defined endpoint. In such cases, the outcome will be formally announced during the livestream and in subsequent coverage.
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>>> More to read: What is Crypto Prediction Market? A Complete Beginner’s Guide
