What is POL (prev. MATIC) (POL)?

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

POL replaced MATIC as part of Polygon’s “2.0” roadmap to address blockchain fragmentation. It serves as the economic and governance glue for Polygon’s ecosystem, which now includes Proof-of-Stake (PoS), zkEVM chains, and the AggLayer—a ZK-powered interoperability layer connecting multiple chains. POL’s expanded utility aims to solve liquidity silos and simplify user/developer experiences in a multi-chain future.

2. Technology & Architecture

POL operates as a hyperproductive token, a concept unique to Polygon. Unlike MATIC, which secured only one chain, POL validators can:
- Secure multiple chains simultaneously
- Earn rewards across chains they secure
- Participate in governance decisions (via Polygon Improvement Proposals)

This is enabled by Polygon’s AggLayer, which aggregates zero-knowledge proofs from connected chains, allowing POL to function natively across the network.

3. Tokenomics & Governance

POL maintains MATIC’s 1:1 supply but introduces:
- Dual emissions model: 50% of new POL goes to PoS validators, 50% to a community treasury for grants.
- Future-proof governance: Token holders vote on upgrades like chain integrations and fee structures.

The transition prioritized backward compatibility—existing Polygon PoS users were auto-upgraded, while Ethereum-based MATIC holders migrate via Polygon’s portal.

Conclusion

POL represents Polygon’s evolution from a single scaling solution to an interconnected network of chains, with the token acting as both fuel and governance mechanism. Its success hinges on whether AggLayer adoption justifies its “hyperproductive” design—can POL become the standard for cross-chain value flows, or will fragmentation persist despite its ambitions?