About
Polygon is a multi-faceted blockchain scaling platform designed to transform Ethereum into a full-fledged multi-chain system, often referred to as the "Internet of Blockchains." Originally launched as Matic Network in 2017, the project evolved to provide a diverse suite of scaling solutions including its flagship Proof of Stake (PoS) sidechain, zkEVM, and the Polygon CDK (Chain Development Kit). Its existence is predicated on solving Ethereum’s persistent challenges regarding high transaction costs and limited throughput without sacrificing the security or developer community of the base layer.
The protocol underwent a massive technical shift in late 2024 with the introduction of Polygon 2.0 and the transition of its native asset from MATIC to POL. This upgrade established the "AggLayer," a unified aggregation layer that allows for seamless cross-chain interoperability by aggregating zero-knowledge proofs from various Polygon-based chains. This architecture enables a fragmented landscape of Layer 2s to feel like a single, unified network where liquidity and users can move instantaneously between different execution environments without the friction of manual bridging.
Technically, the Polygon PoS chain utilizes a three-layer architecture consisting of the Ethereum Staking Layer, the Heimdall Proof of Stake layer, and the Bor Block Producer layer. Heimdall acts as the consensus engine that checkpoints transactions to the Ethereum mainnet, while Bor handles the execution and production of blocks at a high frequency. This hybrid approach ensures that the network can maintain high speeds and low fees often less than a cent per transaction—while periodically anchoring its state to the most secure blockchain in existence for finality.
The POL token serves as a "hyperproductive" asset that powers the entire coordination layer of the revamped ecosystem. Unlike MATIC, which had a fixed supply and functioned primarily for staking and gas on a single chain, POL is designed to be utilized across multiple chains within the Polygon universe. Holders can stake POL to secure various sub-networks simultaneously, a process known as restaking, allowing them to earn multiple streams of rewards while providing localized security for application-specific chains and Supernets.
Economically, POL introduced a long-term sustainability model that includes a 2% annual emission rate to support the network's decentralized future. One percent of this inflation is directed toward validator rewards to ensure consistent network security, while the other one percent is allocated to the Community Treasury for ecosystem development and research. This shift ensures that the protocol has a continuous source of funding for innovation and maintenance as it scales toward a global infrastructure for the decentralized web.
