Polygon
A multi-solution scaling platform connecting Ethereum to a network of ZK-powered chains.
Overview
Polygon (originally Matic Network) is a comprehensive Ethereum scaling platform co-founded by Sandeep Nailwal, Jaynti Kanani, and Anurag Arjun in 2017. Initially launched as a Plasma sidechain providing cheap transactions, Polygon has evolved into a multi-faceted scaling ecosystem that includes multiple zero-knowledge (ZK) proof solutions, making it one of the most versatile scaling platforms in the blockchain space.
The Polygon ecosystem now encompasses several scaling technologies: Polygon PoS (the original sidechain with its own validator set), Polygon CDK (a toolkit for building custom ZK-powered L2 chains), and Polygon Miden (a ZK rollup focused on privacy). Polygon zkEVM, a ZK rollup that provided Ethereum-equivalent execution with zero-knowledge proofs, was also part of the ecosystem; its Mainnet Beta sequencer was sunset on 3 July 2026 and, as of October 2026, the network is no longer producing blocks. The native token has transitioned from MATIC to POL as part of the Polygon 2.0 upgrade, with POL serving as the unified token for staking, governance, and gas across the ecosystem.
Polygon has been particularly successful in attracting major brands and enterprises to Web3. Nike, Starbucks, Disney, Reddit, and numerous other household names have launched blockchain initiatives on Polygon, drawn by its low costs, fast transactions, and established developer ecosystem. This enterprise adoption, combined with Polygon's ZK technology investments, positions it uniquely at the intersection of retail, institutional, and developer needs.
About Polygon
Polygon Chain is an EVM-compatible blockchain anchored to Ethereum.
Quoted from Polygon's official site (docs.polygon.technology), retrieved 2026-08-08. Educational reference only — not an endorsement or investment advice.
Polygon has onboarded more real-world brands and enterprises into Web3 than perhaps any other platform. Its multi-solution approach — offering both proven (PoS sidechain) and cutting-edge (ZK rollups) scaling technologies — makes it adaptable to a wide range of use cases. The Polygon 2.0 vision of a unified ecosystem of ZK-powered chains connected by a shared bridge represents one of the most ambitious scaling roadmaps in the industry.
How It Works
The basics
Polygon PoS is a commit chain with its own set of validators who stake POL tokens and produce blocks, periodically checkpointing to Ethereum for added security. Polygon zkEVM was a true ZK rollup: transactions were executed off-chain, and a zero-knowledge proof was generated that mathematically proved all transactions were executed correctly.
Going deeper
This proof was verified on Ethereum, providing cryptographic rather than economic security. Its Mainnet Beta sequencer was sunset on 3 July 2026; as of October 2026 the network is no longer producing blocks, and Polygon Labs says assets held in self-custodied wallets can be recovered on Ethereum through a claims interface that remains available through 31 December 2027.
Under the hood
Polygon CDK allows developers to launch their own ZK-powered L2 chains that can connect to the broader Polygon ecosystem. The POL token unifies staking, gas fees, and governance across all Polygon chains.
Pros & Cons
- Multiple scaling solutions (PoS, CDK, Miden) provide flexibility for different use cases
- Unmatched enterprise and brand adoption — Nike, Starbucks, Reddit, and many more
- CDK enables launching custom ZK chains connected to the Polygon ecosystem
- Very large and active developer community with extensive tooling and documentation
- Polygon PoS is technically a sidechain with its own security, not a true L2 rollup
- The MATIC to POL migration adds complexity for existing holders and ecosystem participants
- Many scaling solutions can dilute focus and create ecosystem fragmentation
- ZK technology (CDK) is still maturing and may have performance limitations
- Polygon zkEVM Mainnet Beta was sunset on 3 July 2026, after which the network stopped producing blocks
- Competition from other ZK rollups (zkSync, StarkNet, Scroll) in the zero-knowledge space
Use Cases
- Enterprise Web3 initiatives — loyalty programs, digital collectibles, and supply chain
- Low-cost DeFi on Polygon PoS with protocols like QuickSwap and Aave
- Custom blockchain deployment using Polygon CDK for application-specific chains
- Gaming and NFT applications leveraging Polygon's low fees and fast confirmations
Price Chart
Historical USD price from CoinGecko. Educational reference — not investment advice.
Live Market Data
- Market Cap Rank
- #75
- Market Cap
- $938.83M
- 24h Volume
- $39.77M
- Fully Diluted Val
- $938.83M
- All-Time High
- $1.29-93.15%March 2024
- All-Time Low
- $0.067711July 2026
- 24h Range
- $0.086143 – $0.0905
Market data from CoinGecko, refreshed every 15 minutes. Educational reference only — not investment advice.
Project Health
Dev activity via CoinGecko, TVL/audit status via DefiLlama; official links are the project’s own. Presence here is not an endorsement.
Holder Distribution
Top holders often include protocol, bridge, exchange, and staking contracts — not individual investors.
Source: Blockscout, as of Oct 5, 2026. View all holders on Blockscout
Where POL trades
The most active markets for POL by 24h volume. Informational only — these are not affiliate links or endorsements.
Data via CoinGecko. Always verify you are on an exchange’s official domain before trading.
Latest Polygon news
Headlines via crypto news RSS- Binance, Polymarket seek Polygon hard fork to recover $6.8M in stolen cryptoCointelegraph · Nov 5, 2026
- Polygon Extends Its Stablecoin Payments Infrastructure to SolanaDecrypt · Oct 29, 2026
- Polygon adds Solana to payment stack linking bank accounts, crypto and payoutsThe Block · Oct 29, 2026
- Polygon expands Open Money Stack to Solana, after Tron rolloutCointelegraph · Oct 29, 2026
- Polygon sees Coinme acquisition as entry to payments sector dominated by Visa, StripeCoinDesk · Oct 17, 2026
Headlines link to third-party publishers and are not endorsements or investment advice.
Technical Details
- Consensus
- Proof of Stake (Polygon PoS); ZK proofs (Polygon zkEVM, sunset 3 July 2026)
- Launch Year
- 2017
- Founder
- Sandeep Nailwal, Jaynti Kanani, Anurag Arjun
- Max Supply
- 10,000,000,000 POL
- Blockchain
- Polygon (Ethereum scaling ecosystem)
- Website
- polygon.technology
Frequently asked questions
What is Polygon (POL)?
Polygon (originally Matic Network) is a comprehensive Ethereum scaling platform co-founded by Sandeep Nailwal, Jaynti Kanani, and Anurag Arjun in 2017. Initially launched as a Plasma sidechain providing cheap transactions, Polygon has evolved into a multi-faceted scaling ecosystem that includes multiple zero-knowledge (ZK) proof solutions, making it one of the most versatile scaling platforms in the blockchain space. The Polygon ecosystem now encompasses several scaling technologies: Polygon PoS (the original sidechain with its own validator set), Polygon CDK (a toolkit for building custom ZK-powered L2 chains), and Polygon Miden (a ZK rollup focused on privacy). Polygon zkEVM, a ZK rollup that provided Ethereum-equivalent execution with zero-knowledge proofs, was also part of the ecosystem; its Mainnet Beta sequencer was sunset on 3 July 2026 and, as of October 2026, the network is no longer producing blocks. The native token has transitioned from MATIC to POL as part of the Polygon 2.0 upgrade, with POL serving as the unified token for staking, governance, and gas across the ecosystem. Polygon has been particularly successful in attracting major brands and enterprises to Web3. Nike, Starbucks, Disney, Reddit, and numerous other household names have launched blockchain initiatives on Polygon, drawn by its low costs, fast transactions, and established developer ecosystem. This enterprise adoption, combined with Polygon's ZK technology investments, positions it uniquely at the intersection of retail, institutional, and developer needs.
What is Polygon used for?
Polygon has onboarded more real-world brands and enterprises into Web3 than perhaps any other platform. Its multi-solution approach — offering both proven (PoS sidechain) and cutting-edge (ZK rollups) scaling technologies — makes it adaptable to a wide range of use cases. The Polygon 2.0 vision of a unified ecosystem of ZK-powered chains connected by a shared bridge represents one of the most ambitious scaling roadmaps in the industry.
How does Polygon work?
Polygon PoS is a commit chain with its own set of validators who stake POL tokens and produce blocks, periodically checkpointing to Ethereum for added security. Polygon zkEVM was a true ZK rollup: transactions were executed off-chain, and a zero-knowledge proof was generated that mathematically proved all transactions were executed correctly.
What consensus mechanism does Polygon use?
Proof of Stake (Polygon PoS); ZK proofs (Polygon zkEVM, sunset 3 July 2026)
What are the pros and cons of Polygon?
Pros: Multiple scaling solutions (PoS, CDK, Miden) provide flexibility for different use cases; Unmatched enterprise and brand adoption — Nike, Starbucks, Reddit, and many more; CDK enables launching custom ZK chains connected to the Polygon ecosystem; Very large and active developer community with extensive tooling and documentation. Cons: Polygon PoS is technically a sidechain with its own security, not a true L2 rollup; The MATIC to POL migration adds complexity for existing holders and ecosystem participants; Many scaling solutions can dilute focus and create ecosystem fragmentation; ZK technology (CDK) is still maturing and may have performance limitations; Polygon zkEVM Mainnet Beta was sunset on 3 July 2026, after which the network stopped producing blocks; Competition from other ZK rollups (zkSync, StarkNet, Scroll) in the zero-knowledge space.
More in Layer 2 & Scaling
View all 26 in Layer 2 & Scaling →Compare Polygon
References & further reading
- primary
- primary