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View ChartPolygon (formerly Matic Network) is a blockchain platform which aims to create a multi-chain blockchain system compatible with Ethereum. Its core component is a modular, flexible framework that supports building multiple types of applications.
It is a multi-chain blockchain system compatible with Ethereum, which seeks to stimulate mass adoption of cryptocurrencies by resolving the problems of scalability on many blockchains. Polygon effectively transforms Ethereum into a full-fledged multi-chain system (aka Internet of Blockchains). This multi-chain system is akin to other ones such as Polkadot, Cosmos, Avalanche etc. with the advantages of Ethereum’s security, vibrant ecosystem and openness.
POL is available for trading on major exchanges such as Coinbase, Kraken, and Robinhood.
POL is the native gas token powering all transactions on Polygon PoS and the staking token securing the network. On September 4, 2024, MATIC was upgraded to POL across the Polygon network, and every transaction on Polygon PoS starting that day uses POL as the native gas token. As of September 3, 2025, almost a year following the upgrade, 99% of the MATIC on the Polygon network had successfully migrated to POL. The total supply is approximately 10.62B–10.63B POL, with circulating supply essentially matching total supply, and no maximum supply. The contract address is 0x455e...ffc3f6, which can be verified on etherscan.io. On September 27, 2025, Polygon announced the permanent burn of 100M POL.
Polygon boasts of up to 65,000 transactions per second on a single side chain, along with a respectable block confirmation time of less than two seconds. Its Plasma framework provides the potential of housing decentralized applications on their infrastructure without experiencing the normal drawbacks common on proof-of-work blockchains. POL supports payments, tokenized assets, and DeFi applications such as lending, borrowing, and trading across the Polygon network.
The number of transactions that may be processed in a single second by the Ethereum blockchain is restricted. During times of heavy network traffic, the gas prices associated with each transaction could rise beyond what the Ethereum network’s foundational layer is capable of processing. The fast increase to $50 or $80 each transaction in petrol prices makes it unaffordable for most customers. The Ethereum blockchain is less appealing to users because of its slowness caused by high network congestion.
Thus, the fees associated with purchasing non-fungible tokens (NFTs), utilizing decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and protocols, and trading, purchasing, or transferring tokens on Ethereum can swiftly accumulate to hundreds of dollars.
Transaction processing on different sidechains is one of the scaling methods offered by Polygon. Polygon has a significant advantage over Ethereum, with 11,000,000 payments per second now possible on Polygon (per @0xPolygon, Sep 27). In addition, Polygon’s fees are significantly lower, costing only a few pennies. For example, sending 1,500 USDC can be done with a 0.50 USDC fee and an ETA of less than 1 second, settling in 500 milliseconds.
In order to provide users with the greatest scaling option for their individual use case, Polygon has built multiple protocols that give different sorts of zero-knowledge proofs (zk). Zero knowledge proofs are a primitive in cryptography that allows another person, the verifier, to determine if a statement is valid without requiring extra information.
A number of integration solutions are available in Polygon, including zk rollups, optimistic rollups, proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain bridges, and plasma sidechains. In this example, the main blockchain is Ethereum, and there are also plasma sidechains. Because of the PoS bridge, decentralized applications (DApps) can be built on one platform while retaining the benefits of other platforms.
Polygon is a technique that groups transactions off the main blockchain, making Ethereum faster and lighter. Zk rollups allow for the off-chain processing of transaction groups and the creation of validity proofs prior to their transmission to the main blockchain. Because of this, the primary chain stores less data. Optimistic rollups employ a fraud-proof protocol to validate legitimate transactions and punish dishonest ones.
Polygon is cognizant of the fact that factors like speed, sovereignty, transaction fees, and security are all up for grabs when deciding on a scaling solution. As a result, developers have a lot of options when it comes to scaling solutions, and Polygon provides a full array of options.
Polygon is a multi-chain blockchain system compatible with Ethereum, which means that the project doesn’t seek to upgrade its current basic blockchain layer any time soon. The project focuses on reducing the complexity of scalability and instant blockchain transactions.
POL is both the native gas token of Polygon PoS and the staking token that secures the network. Stakers earn rewards and can become eligible for Agglayer ecosystem airdrops.
Polygon uses a customized version of the Plasma framework, which allows each sidechain on Polygon to achieve up to 65,536 transactions per block.
Commercially, the sidechains of Polygon are structurally designed to support a variety of decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols available in the Ethereum ecosystem. Polygon aims to build a multi-chain blockchain system compatible with Ethereum and has launched the Agglayer ecosystem. This makes Polygon an interoperable decentralized blockchain platform.
POL can be purchased through MetaMask using a debit card, credit card, bank transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and other regional options. No exchange account is needed, and POL goes straight to a self-custodial wallet. Within the wallet, users can buy, sell, swap, and stake POL. The contract address can be verified on etherscan.io.
POL, like other cryptocurrencies, is subject to price volatility, and its value can fluctuate significantly. Regulatory policies in different jurisdictions may affect the availability and use of POL. Technical risks, including smart contract vulnerabilities and network upgrades, may also impact the Polygon network and the POL token. This information is for general reference and should not be treated as investment advice.
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Trade| Feature | POL (Polygon) | OP (Optimism) | ARB (Arbitrum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scaling Architecture | AggLayer + ZK-Rollups + POS | OP Stack (Superchain Optimistic) | Arbitrum One (Optimistic) + Orbit |
| Token Utility | Multi-Chain Gas + Hyper-Staking + Governance | Superchain Governance (No Gas Function) | Arbitrum DAO Governance (No Gas Function) |
| Cross-Chain Liquidity | Instant ZK liquidity aggregation via AggLayer | Relies on standard bridges & shared security | Isolated Rollup chains with fragmented liquidity |
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