POL (ex-MATIC)

POL is the native token of the Polygon ecosystem and the successor to MATIC. The migration from MATIC to POL was approved by Polygon governance and executed in 2024, converting holdings at a one-to-one ratio and repositioning the token to serve a network of chains rather than a single sidechain.

Polygon began as a scaling solution for Ethereum, offering cheaper and faster transactions while settling to Ethereum for security. Over time it expanded into a family of scaling technologies, including zero-knowledge rollups and a chain development kit that lets teams launch their own Polygon-connected networks.

What POL does

The token's central design idea is restaking across multiple chains. A single POL stake can be used to secure several Polygon networks at once, with validators able to opt into validating additional chains and earn rewards from each. This differs from the older model where a token secured one chain only, and it is intended to let the ecosystem add chains without fragmenting its security budget.

POL is also used to pay transaction fees on Polygon's proof-of-stake network and to vote in ecosystem governance.

Supply

POL has no hard maximum supply. Total and circulating supply both sit at roughly 10.7 billion tokens. Polygon's token model includes an emission schedule that funds validator rewards and an ecosystem treasury, meaning supply grows over time at a rate set by governance rather than being fixed.

Anyone holding older MATIC should be aware that the migration to POL has taken place, and that some venues and contracts may still reference the previous ticker. Confirming which token a contract or listing refers to is worthwhile before transacting.