Leadership Shift and Roadmap Revamp
Sandeep Nailwal, Polygon co-founder, has been appointed CEO of the Polygon Foundation, signaling a major leadership transition and strategic realignment for the network. Nailwal, instrumental in launching Matic Network (now Polygon) in 2017, will focus on advancing AggLayer—Polygon’s cross-chain liquidity protocol designed to enhance interoperability.
"This marks Polygon’s renewed push to lead Web3 innovation," stated the foundation in a press release.
Nailwal’s priorities include long-term growth strategies, ecosystem initiatives, and delivering value to POL stakers—the renamed native token (formerly MATIC).
Polygon’s Evolution and Challenges
Initially a low-cost Ethereum scaling solution, Polygon’s proof-of-stake (PoS) sidechain gained traction for decentralized apps (dApps) amid high Ethereum gas fees. However, competition from layer-2 rollups like Arbitrum and Optimism has shifted the landscape.
Key Metrics:
- TVL Decline: Polygon’s TVL dropped to ~$1B (from $9.79B peak in 2021).
- zkEVM Phase-Out: The zkEVM Mainnet Beta will sunset in 2026 due to adoption hurdles.
👉 Explore Polygon’s latest developments
Strategic Pivot: Doubling Down on PoS and RWAs
Polygon is refocusing on its PoS sidechain, targeting real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. The foundation unveiled a roadmap to achieve:
- 100,000 TPS capacity.
- Trillions in secured tokenized assets.
Personnel changes include the departure of zero-knowledge lead Jordi Baylina, who will launch ZisK, an independent project.
Ethereum’s Influence and POL’s Future
Nailwal cited Ethereum’s "existential crisis" as inspiration for Polygon’s recalibration, emphasizing a return to agile, decisive growth.
POL Token Outlook:
- Regulatory Clarity: SEC dropped MATIC security investigations.
- Market Liquidity: Increased interest from market makers in POL trading.
FAQ
Why is Polygon sunsetting zkEVM?
Due to developer friction and low adoption, Polygon shifts focus to AggLayer and PoS chain scalability.
What’s next for POL stakers?
Nailwal aims to enhance staker value through ecosystem growth and liquidity improvements.
How does AggLayer work?
It enables seamless cross-chain liquidity, bridging Polygon with other networks.
👉 Learn about Polygon’s AggLayer
Edited for clarity, brevity, and SEO optimization. Original reporting by Margaux Nijkerk.
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