Crypto Gloss

Polygon

Polygon is an ecosystem of blockchain networks and tools associated with Ethereum scaling and interoperability. “Polygon” often means its long-running Polygon Proof of Stake (PoS) chain, while the wider ecosystem also includes custom-chain tools and cross-chain infrastructure. POL is the native gas and staking token of Polygon PoS.

Stat Value
Ticker POL
Price $0.09168
Market Cap $974.89M
24h Change -2.20%
Circulating Supply 10.63B POL
Max Supply No fixed maximum
All-Time High $1.29
Contract (Ethereum) 0x455e...c3f6
Contract (Polygon Pos) 0x0000...1010
via ChangeNow · T&CsPrice data from CoinGecko as of 2026-10-18. Not financial advice.

What Polygon includes

Polygon is not a single execution environment. Its best-known public network is Polygon PoS, an EVM-compatible chain with its own validator set. Separate products and projects may use Polygon’s chain-development tooling or connect to its interoperability systems, but each network can have its own design and security assumptions.

  • Polygon PoS: A proof-of-stake chain for EVM applications and transactions. Validators produce and verify blocks; checkpoint and staking operations also involve Ethereum contracts.
  • Agglayer: Polygon’s cross-chain settlement and interoperability protocol for participating networks. Connectivity is not automatic for every blockchain, and a connected chain does not become identical to Polygon PoS.
  • CDK tooling: A set of tools for launching custom chains. A chain’s operator chooses its configuration; integrations and security properties depend on the deployment.

Polygon zkEVM Mainnet Beta was a separate rollup product. It is no longer an active network; its sunset and remaining claims process are described below.

How Polygon PoS works

Polygon PoS processes transactions on a chain that has its own proof-of-stake validators. Validator agreement and checkpointing link its operation to Ethereum, but checkpoints do not make Polygon PoS a rollup that inherits every Ethereum security guarantee. Users should account for its validator, bridge, and contract assumptions when moving assets.

POL has two roles that are easy to conflate. It is the token used to pay transaction fees on Polygon PoS, and it is the token validators stake to participate in network security. Polygon’s staking contracts are on Ethereum, while users spend POL as gas on Polygon PoS.

POL and the MATIC migration

On September 4, 2024, POL replaced MATIC as Polygon PoS’s native gas and staking token at a 1:1 ratio. MATIC held on Polygon PoS was upgraded automatically. Ethereum-based MATIC follows a separate migration path; check Polygon’s official instructions before taking action, since token contracts and networks matter.

POL’s initial supply was 10 billion. The published token design added emissions to support staking rewards and a community treasury, initially described as 2% annually, split between those uses. Polygon’s proposal allows the community to change or discontinue the schedule. Therefore, the 10 billion figure is the initial supply, not a fixed maximum. CoinGecko reported no fixed maximum at the snapshot date shown in the table.

What happened to Polygon zkEVM?

Polygon zkEVM Mainnet Beta’s sequencer stopped on July 3, 2026, and the network no longer produces blocks. Polygon says eligible assets held directly in a user-controlled wallet can be claimed on Ethereum through its official recovery interface until December 31, 2027. Assets held inside smart contracts, including DeFi positions, multisigs, or third-party bridges, are not recoverable through that interface. This does not affect Polygon PoS.

Common uses

  • Running EVM-compatible applications, including decentralized finance, games, and NFT projects on Polygon PoS.
  • Sending tokens and using applications where Polygon PoS transaction fees and confirmation behavior fit the user’s needs.
  • Building separate application-specific chains with CDK tooling, or using cross-chain features when a particular network is connected and supported.
  • Paying Polygon PoS gas with POL and participating in staking through the network’s Ethereum-based staking contracts.

Risks and trade-offs

Low transaction fees do not remove network risk. Polygon PoS depends on its validator set and bridge design; smart-contract bugs, validator failures, or bridge problems can affect users. POL emissions can expand supply, so holders should distinguish staking rewards from guaranteed returns. The zkEVM sunset also shows that a product can be discontinued even when its parent ecosystem continues. Recovery eligibility depends on where assets were held, not just on which project name appears in a wallet.

History

  • Matic Network: Polygon began as Matic Network, focused on Ethereum scaling.
  • 2021: Matic Network adopted the Polygon name and a broader ecosystem strategy.
  • September 2024: POL replaced MATIC as the native gas and staking token on Polygon PoS.
  • July 2026: Polygon zkEVM Mainnet Beta stopped producing blocks; an official recovery interface opened for eligible wallet-held assets.

Common misconceptions

  • “Polygon” and “Polygon PoS” always mean the same thing. Polygon can refer to a broader ecosystem; Polygon PoS is one specific chain.
  • “Polygon PoS is an Ethereum rollup.” It uses its own validator system and has different security assumptions from a rollup.
  • “Polygon zkEVM is still running.” Its Mainnet Beta sequencer was sunset in July 2026.
  • “POL has a 10 billion hard cap.” Ten billion was the initial supply; emissions mean it is not a fixed maximum.

Social Media Sentiment

A Reddit discussion about the zkEVM wind-down, with comments in September 2026, included practical concerns about wallet connections and claims, alongside replies clarifying which assets the official recovery interface covers. It is a small, anecdotal thread focused on the shutdown, not a measure of overall Polygon sentiment.

Last updated: 2026-10

Related Terms

See Also

Swap POL with ChangeNOW.

Sources