What is Polygon (POL) crypto?
Polygon (POL) fact sheet with live price · reviewed November 4, 2026
Polygon is a network that makes Ethereum-style apps faster and cheaper, best known for its Polygon PoS chain, which is popular for payments. Its coin is POL, which replaced the older MATIC token one-for-one starting in September 2024. POL pays fees on Polygon and is staked by validators.
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Key facts
| Launched | 2017 as Matic Network; Polygon PoS chain since 2020 |
|---|---|
| Created by | Jaynti Kanani, Sandeep Nailwal, Anurag Arjun and Mihailo Bjelić |
| Coin | POL (formerly MATIC); upgraded 1:1 from September 4, 2024 |
| How it's secured | Proof of stake, with checkpoints posted to Ethereum |
| Supply | Started at 10 billion POL; 2% new POL a year for ten years (1% to validators, 1% to a community treasury) |
| Main products | Polygon PoS chain and AggLayer, which links chains together |
Who runs it
Around 100 validators secure Polygon PoS. Polygon Labs develops most of the software, and changes go through Polygon Improvement Proposals and community governance.
What it's used for
Payments and stablecoin transfers, apps that need low fees, and some company tokenization projects. POL pays gas fees on Polygon PoS and is staked by validators and delegators.
How it works
Validators stake POL to produce blocks on Polygon PoS and periodically post a summary ("checkpoint") to Ethereum. It's a separate chain with its own validators rather than a rollup, so it doesn't inherit all of Ethereum's security.
MATIC to POL
In September 2024 Polygon swapped MATIC for POL at one-to-one. Polygon said 99% of MATIC had been migrated by September 2025, and major exchanges converted their customers' balances automatically; Coinbase finished in October 2025. Old MATIC on Ethereum can still be upgraded through Polygon's official portal. Be wary of anyone else offering to "migrate" your MATIC: it's a common phishing lure.
Where things stand (November 2026)
Polygon has refocused on payments. The Rio upgrade in October 2025 sped up block production and confirmations on Polygon PoS, and AggLayer connects it with other chains.
Risks to know
- Polygon PoS relies on its own validator set, not Ethereum's, for security.
- Ongoing 2% annual issuance adds new POL.
- Fake "MATIC to POL migration" sites steal funds.
- Competition from Ethereum layer 2s and other payment chains.
- Price is volatile.
Buying and storing it
If you decide to buy, use a regulated exchange you reach directly, check fees with the true cost calculator, and store long-term holdings in a wallet you control, with the seed phrase written down offline. Read how to buy crypto safely. This page isn't a recommendation to buy.
Questions
Is MATIC the same as POL?
POL replaced MATIC one-for-one. If you still hold MATIC on Ethereum, you can upgrade it through Polygon's official portal; most exchanges converted balances automatically.
Is Polygon a layer 2?
Polygon PoS is usually called one, but technically it's a sidechain with its own validators that posts checkpoints to Ethereum.
What do I need to pay fees on Polygon?
A little POL in your wallet.
Where to next
Sources
- Polygon documentation
- Polygon's POL token surges after Binance listing, marking MATIC migration (The Block, September 2024)
- Coinbase finalizes MATIC to POL swap as migration hits 99% (AMBCrypto, October 2025)
- Polygon roadmap (polygon.technology)
Facts checked against the sources listed, as of November 4, 2026. Live price data by CoinGecko. Educational only; not financial advice. How we write and check pages.