Home
chevron
Crypto Academy
chevron
Cryptocurrencies
chevron
Polygon (POL) : How It Works and What Role This Crypto Plays in 2025
Copié

Polygon (POL) : How It Works and What Role This Crypto Plays in 2025

POL emerges as one of the most compelling cryptocurrencies in the blockchain ecosystem in 2025, symbolizing Polygon's successful transition to a unified multi-chain ecosystem. Replacing MATIC in a historic upgrade, this token goes beyond mere technical evolution. POL stands as the cornerstone of an ecosystem reshaping blockchain interoperability and driving widespread adoption of Ethereum scaling solutions.

Written by Maholy

Translated on July 21, 2025 at 15:37 by Maholy

Geometric shape with straight sides angles.
Copié

What is POL (Polygon) ?

POL is the native token of the Polygon ecosystem, a multi-chain infrastructure designed to solve the scalability and interoperability challenges that limit mass adoption of blockchains. This new generation cryptocurrency has progressively replaced MATIC as part of a migration aimed at unifying the entire Polygon ecosystem under a single token.

POL (Polygon)

The distinctive feature of POL lies in its ability to power not only the original Polygon PoS blockchain, but also all scaling solutions developed by the team, including Polygon zkEVM, Polygon CDK, and the AggLayer. This unified approach creates a coherent ecosystem where developers and users benefit from a seamless experience across all chains.

The Polygon infrastructure has revolutionized the Ethereum ecosystem by offering high-performance Layer 2 solutions that maintain the security of the main blockchain while providing fast and cost-effective transactions. This approach has attracted thousands of decentralized applications and millions of active users.

histoire de POL

The History of Polygon (POL)

The journey of POL began under the name Matic Network in 2017. Its development accelerated in 2024 with the official announcement of the migration from MATIC. This major transition aimed to adapt the token to the growing needs of a rapidly expanding ecosystem, particularly in terms of governance and interoperability.

This migration was officially launched on September 4, 2024, marking the beginning of a 4-year transition period allowing holders to exchange their tokens at a 1:1 ratio. This gradual migration achieved an exceptional success rate of 92.7% in 2025, demonstrating the community’s confidence.

Who Created POL ?

POL was developed by the founding team of Polygon, led by Sandeep Nailwal, Jaynti Kanani, and Anurag Arjun. This team of visionary Indian entrepreneurs created one of the most widely adopted scaling solutions in the Ethereum ecosystem.

les créateurs

Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder and COO of Polygon, brings business development expertise and strategic vision that have been crucial in the international expansion of the ecosystem. His leadership has established partnerships with the world’s largest companies.

Jaynti Kanani, co-founder and CEO, has solid technical experience in blockchain development and distributed systems architecture. His technical vision has guided Polygon’s evolution towards a unified multi-chain ecosystem.

Anurag Arjun, co-founder and CPO, brings expertise in product design and user experience that has been decisive in the massive adoption of Polygon solutions by developers and businesses.

What is POL Crypto Used For ?

Unlike traditional single-chain tokens, POL has a cross-chain utility that extends throughout the entire multi-chain ecosystem.

The first function of POL concerns network security via staking. Holders can delegate their tokens to validators to participate in consensus and receive rewards proportional to their participation. This mechanism ensures the security of the entire Polygon ecosystem.

Utilité de Polygon

Payment of transaction fees constitutes the second fundamental use of POL. Each interaction with Polygon blockchains requires the payment of fees in POL, creating a constant demand for the token while maintaining extremely competitive usage costs.

Decentralized governance represents the third pillar of POL‘s utility. Holders can participate in important decisions regarding the evolution of the ecosystem, technical updates, and parameters of the different chains. This unified governance allows for effective coordination between all Polygon solutions.

How Does the Polygon Network Work ?

The Polygon network is based on an innovative multi-chain architecture that combines several cutting-edge technologies to offer flexible and high-performance scaling solutions. This modular infrastructure allows developers to choose the solution best suited to their specific needs.

Polygon POS

The Polygon PoS blockchain constitutes the main solution, using a Proof of Stake consensus mechanism with checkpoints on Ethereum to ensure security. This approach allows processing more than 7,000 transactions per second with average fees below $0.01.

Polygon PoS’s sidechain architecture maintains a permanent connection with Ethereum via secure bridges, allowing users to transfer their assets between the two networks. This native interoperability facilitates adoption by projects already existing on Ethereum.

fonctionnement de réseau

Polygon’s validator system uses a set of selected nodes that validate transactions and produce blocks. These validators are economically incentivized via staking rewards and penalized for malicious behavior, ensuring network integrity.

Other Solutions

The zkEVM and CDK solutions complete the ecosystem by offering alternatives based on zero-knowledge proofs, enabling security equivalent to Ethereum with superior performance. The AggLayer unifies all these solutions under a common interoperability layer.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Polygon (POL)

Let’s now look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Polygon universe and its POL token.

The 5 main advantages of POL :

  • Multi-chain ecosystem : With more than 100 blockchains supported and millions of active users, Polygon has one of the most developed ecosystems.
  • Exceptional technical performance : The recent Heimdall v2 update reduced transaction finality to 5 seconds, positioning Polygon among the fastest solutions. With more than 7,000 TPS and fees below $0.01, the infrastructure rivals the best alternatives.
  • Native interoperability : The Polygon ecosystem offers multiple solutions (PoS, zkEVM, CDK) adapted to different needs, unified by the AggLayer. This flexibility allows developers to choose the optimal approach for their applications.
  • Institutional adoption : Polygon has established partnerships with giants like Disney, Starbucks, and Meta, demonstrating its ability to meet enterprise needs. This institutional adoption strengthens the legitimacy and stability of the ecosystem.
  • Continuous innovation : The Polygon team maintains a sustained pace of innovation with constant developments. Recent technical improvements and expansion into new use cases position POL for long-term growth.
avantages

The 5 main disadvantages of POL :

  • Intense competition : Polygon faces fierce competition with Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and other rapidly growing Layer 2 solutions. This competition could erode market share and put pressure on prices.
  • Dependence on Ethereum : While this connection is an advantage, it also creates a dependency on Ethereum’s evolution. Improvements in Ethereum 2.0 could reduce the appeal of external scaling solutions.
  • Ecosystem complexity : The diversity of Polygon solutions can create confusion for developers and users. This complexity could slow adoption compared to simpler, more unified solutions.
  • Relative centralization : Like many PoS networks, Polygon has a concentration of validators that can raise questions about actual decentralization, particularly important for long-term security.
  • Price volatility : POL has experienced significant volatility with major fluctuations despite technical improvements. This instability may discourage institutional adoption and use as a store of value.

Polygon (POL) Price and Predictions

The analysis of POL‘s price reveals a trajectory influenced by the technical developments of the ecosystem, the migration from MATIC, and, as often, the dynamics of the cryptocurrency market.

Prix et prédiction

The recent price evolution of POL shows encouraging performance in July 2025. The token is currently trading around $0.23, after experiencing a 19% increase in anticipation of the Heimdall v2 update. This progression reflects market confidence in technical improvements.

The token’s market cap stands at $2.6 billion and it maintains a trading volume often exceeding $200 million.

POL Price Predictions

Price predictions for 2025 vary according to analysts but generally show moderate optimism. Gate.io anticipates a price target of $0.31 for 2025, while CoinCodex forecasts a potential decline towards $0.17, illustrating the divergence of opinions.

Longer-term forecasts suggest upside potential towards $1.00 by early 2026, according to some analysts, based on the continued growth of the ecosystem and increasing institutional adoption.

Factors influencing the price of POL include the finalization of the MATIC migration, technical improvements such as Heimdall v2, and the expansion of the multi-chain ecosystem. Whale activity and reduced selling pressure post-migration also support these perspectives.

In any case, Polygon’s on-chain activity shows positive signals with increased validator activity and growth of decentralized applications.

Key Moments in POL’s History

POL‘s history is marked by key events that have shaped its evolution and positioning in the blockchain ecosystem.

2017 : Creation of Matic Network by Sandeep Nailwal, Jaynti Kanani, and Anurag Arjun. The project aimed to solve Ethereum’s scalability problems with a sidechain solution.

2019 : Rebranding to Polygon and expansion of the vision towards a complete multi-chain ecosystem. The team developed a suite of diverse scaling solutions.

2021 : Explosion in adoption with the arrival of thousands of decentralized applications and major partnerships with Fortune 500 companies.

Polygon

September 2024 : Launch of MATIC to POL migration, marking the beginning of the transformation towards a unified token for the entire multi-chain ecosystem.

2025 : Progressive finalization of migration with 92.7% of MATIC tokens converted to POL, demonstrating massive community adherence.

July 2025 : Deployment of Heimdall v2 reducing transaction finality to 5 seconds and significantly improving network performance.

July 2025 : 19% increase in the price of POL in anticipation of technical improvements, confirming market confidence in the ecosystem’s evolution.

How and Where to Buy Polygon (POL) ?

Acquiring POL tokens is an essential step for those who wish to invest in the project, participate in its governance, or use applications in its ecosystem. Due to its growing market capitalization and popularity, the POL token is available on the majority of centralized exchange platforms (CEX).

These platforms allow you to buy POL directly with euros or dollars via different payment methods (bank card, wire transfer). Here is our ranking of the best platforms in 2025 :

1
logo bitget
logo bitget
plus
600+ cryptocurrencies
plus
Low trading fees : 0.02% to 0.06%
plus
Futures trading with leverage, copy trading…
cross
KYC required
2
pionex classement
pionex classement
plus
Over 350 trading pairs available
plus
Futures with leverage up to 125×
plus
No KYC required
plus
Built-in automated Grid Trading for free
3
zoomex
zoomex
plus
Over 500 cryptocurrencies
plus
Low trading fees: 0.02% to 0.06%
plus
Futures trading with leverage
plus
Up to $14,000 in bonuses
plus
Optional KYC : required for more options
4
bybit classement
bybit classement
plus
600+ cryptocurrencies available
plus
Competitive fees and advanced trading tools
plus
Futures trading
5
binance
binance
plus
Global Market Leader
plus
Extensive Selection of Cryptocurrencies and Features
cross
Strict Regulatory Restrictions in Some Countries

It’s important to distinguish between specialized exchange platforms (like those mentioned above) where you actually buy and hold cryptocurrencies, and brokers that sometimes offer derivative products like CFDs (Contracts For Difference) on cryptocurrencies. For direct ownership and full control of your assets, it’s preferable to use a specialized exchange platform.

How to Buy POL on Bitget ? Mini Tutorial

Here’s how to buy POL in 5 steps on the best platform in our ranking.

  1. Create an account on Bitget :
  • Go to the official website
  • Click on “Sign up”
  • Fill out the form with your email and password
inscription bitget
  1. Complete KYC verification :
  • Prepare a valid ID document
  • Follow the verification instructions
vérification KYC
  1. Deposit funds :
  • Fund your account on the platform. Via bank transfer, credit card, or other cryptocurrencies for example.
Dépot
  1. Buy POL :
  • Navigate to “Spot Trading”
  • Search for the POL/USDT or POL/EUR pair
  • Place a buy order specifying the quantity of POL you wish to acquire or the amount you want to spend.
  • You can generally choose between a market order (purchase at current price) or a limit order (purchase at a specific price you define).
  1. Secure your POL :
  • After purchase, it is highly recommended to transfer your POL tokens from the exchange platform to a secure personal wallet (see next section) for full control.

Choose a platform that matches your needs in terms of fees, security, ease of use, and regulatory compliance in your jurisdiction.

How to Store Polygon (POL) ?

Once you have acquired POL tokens, the question of their secure storage becomes paramount. Leaving your cryptocurrencies on an exchange platform (CEX) involves significant risks: you don’t directly control your private keys, and your funds could be lost in case of platform hacking, regulatory issues, or company bankruptcy.

This is why it is strongly recommended to transfer your POL to a personal wallet for which you alone hold the private keys. “Not your keys, not your coins” is a fundamental adage in the ecosystem.

ledger

There are mainly two types of wallets for storing your POL :

  1. Cold Wallets : These are hardware devices that store your private keys offline, thus offering the highest level of security against online hacking. They often resemble secure USB keys. Recognized brands like Ledger (for example, Ledger Nano S Plus or Ledger Nano X) are the safest solutions for storing significant amounts or for long-term storage.
  2. Hot Wallets : These are software applications (mobile or desktop apps, browser extensions) that store your private keys on a device connected to the Internet. They are more convenient for frequent use and for interacting with decentralized applications (dApps), but are inherently more vulnerable to malware and phishing than cold wallets. Popular wallets like MetaMask or Trust Wallet can be configured to manage POL tokens.

The choice between a cold wallet and a hot wallet depends on your specific needs: prioritize a cold wallet (like Ledger) for maximum security of your main investments, and possibly use a hot wallet (like MetaMask or Trust Wallet) for smaller amounts intended for regular interactions with Polygon’s and Ethereum’s DeFi ecosystem. The essential thing is to always carefully secure your recovery phrase (seed phrase) and never share it or store it digitally.

How to Get POL for Free ?

Several techniques allow you to obtain POL without direct investment, although these opportunities generally require time, skills, or active participation in the Polygon ecosystem.

Staking rewards represent the most accessible method to get free POL. By delegating their tokens to validators, holders receive rewards proportional to their participation, typically between 5% and 12% annually depending on market conditions.

Polygon’s development programs offer grants and rewards to creators of decentralized applications. The ecosystem regularly funds innovative projects with POL allocations to encourage development.

Next, ecosystem airdrops reward active users of applications built on Polygon. Many projects distribute their tokens to POL holders or frequent users of their services.

airdrops

Finally, liquidity programs on DEXs allow earning POL by providing liquidity to trading pools. These incentive programs reward participants with additional tokens.

The legality of POL varies by jurisdiction, but the token generally enjoys favorable status in most countries that permit cryptocurrencies.

In the European Union, POL benefits from the MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulatory framework that clarifies the status of cryptocurrencies. France, Germany, Portugal, and most European countries explicitly authorize the holding and exchange of POL.

In the United States, the situation remains complex with evolving regulations. However, POL has not been classified as a security by the SEC, which facilitates its trading on regulated American platforms. Partnerships with major American companies reinforce its legitimacy.

Restrictive countries such as China, certain regions of India, and some Middle Eastern countries maintain prohibitions or restrictions on cryptocurrencies that also apply to POL.

Who Holds the Most POL ?

The Polygon team and foundation hold a significant allocation of POL tokens intended for ecosystem development, strategic partnerships, and growth initiatives. This allocation is distributed progressively according to a transparent vesting schedule.

Polygon

Validators and delegators also own a growing share of tokens thanks to staking rewards and participation in consensus. This mechanism encourages a more equitable distribution over time.

Finally, and as often, exchanges and staking services hold significant amounts of POL for their own services, acting as intermediaries for their users.

Our review on Polygon (POL) in 2025

POL is establishing itself as one of the strongest cryptocurrencies in the blockchain ecosystem in 2025, benefiting from a mature ecosystem, continuous technical innovations, and growing institutional adoption.

POL’s strengths lie in the maturity of the Polygon ecosystem with more than 100 blockchains supported and millions of active users. The successful migration from MATIC demonstrates community confidence and the team’s execution capability.

Recent technical improvements like Heimdall v2 with 5-second finality position Polygon favorably against competition. This technical performance, combined with ultra-low fees, maintains the ecosystem’s attractiveness for developers and users. That’s why our opinion is globally positive on Polygon and its POL token.

Maholy

Maholy

Caméléon de la rédaction et experte SEO, Maholy Ny Voary a découvert le monde des cryptomonnaies et du Web3 en 2021. Constamment à l’affût des nouveautés, elle continue de se former pour créer des contenus engageants qui aident véritablement les internautes.

Frequently Asked Questions about POL (Polygon)

What makes POL stand out from other Layer 2 tokens ?

POL sets itself apart with its unified multichain ecosystem supporting over 100 blockchains and a successful migration from MATIC, reaching 92.7% completion. With Heimdall v2 reducing finality to 5 seconds, POL offers technical performance that outpaces most competitors.

Is POL a smart investment in 2025 ?

Forecasts range from $0.17 to $0.31 for 2025, with a recovery potential toward $1.00 by 2026. Its mature ecosystem, institutional partnerships and ongoing technical upgrades support long-term prospects despite market volatility.

How can you generate passive income with POL ?

Staking POL lets you earn passive income of 5% to 12% annually by delegating tokens to validators. Liquidity programs on DEXs like QuickSwap also provide additional yield opportunities.

Where can you safely buy POL ?

POL is available on all major platforms including Bitget, Bybit, Binance, Coinbase and OKX. Native DEXs like QuickSwap provide a decentralized alternative with lower fees thanks to Polygon’s efficiency.

Can POL compete with other Layer 2 solutions ?

POL holds a competitive edge with its mature multichain ecosystem, 5-second finality, and institutional-grade integrations. Still, intense competition from Arbitrum, Optimism and Base demands constant innovation to stay ahead.

DISCLAIMER

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. Trading cryptocurrencies involves risks, and it is important not to invest more than you can afford to lose.

InvestX is not responsible for the quality of the products or services presented on this page and cannot be held liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused by the use of any product or service featured in this article. Investments in crypto assets are inherently risky; readers should conduct their own research before taking any action and invest only within their financial means. This article does not constitute investment advice.

Risk Warning : Trading financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk, including the possibility of losing all or part of your investment. It may not be suitable for all investors. Cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile and can be influenced by external factors such as financial, regulatory, or political events. Margin trading increases financial risks.

CFDs (Contracts for Difference) are complex instruments with a high risk of rapid capital loss due to leverage. Between 74% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should assess whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Before engaging in financial or cryptocurrency trading, you must be fully informed about the associated risks and fees, carefully evaluate your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk tolerance, and seek professional advice if needed. InvestX.fr and the InvestX application may provide general market commentary, which does not constitute investment advice and should not be interpreted as such. Please consult an independent financial advisor for any investment-related questions. InvestX.fr disclaims any liability for errors, misinvestments, inaccuracies, or omissions and does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information, texts, graphics, links, or other materials provided.

Some of the partners featured on this site may not be regulated in your country. It is your responsibility to verify the compliance of these services with local regulations before using them.

Get 6200 USDT with Bitget ! 🔥

Don't miss out on this offer !
Create your account now to unlock this exclusive reward
Open a Bitget account
close-link
Click Me