Goodbye MATIC, hello POL: What Polygon's big change means

With the migration from MATIC to POL reaching 99% completion, Polygon enters a new era. We analyze the history and motivations behind this important change.

After a year-long transition, nearly all Polygon users have adopted POL as the native token of the Polygon PoS network, leaving MATIC behind as the ecosystem's central token. This change is not just a simple rebranding, but rather a reflection of a profound evolution that sought to prepare the platform for future challenges and opportunities.

The community, along with Polygon Labs, was key in this process. Migrating to POL upgrades the digital asset, but above all, opens the door to a more advanced architecture. Now, Polygon aims to become more interoperable and scalable, meaning it will be able to better connect with other networks and handle a higher volume of transactions without losing efficiency.

This strategic move reinforces Polygon's commitment to improving the experience for its users and developers, ensuring the network remains competitive in an ever-changing blockchain environment. Thus, POL becomes not just a token, but the symbol of a renewed era, where innovation and collaboration are central.

From MATIC to POL: A change beyond rebranding

The transition from MATIC to POL wasn't a simple name change, but rather a strategic restructuring. According to the developers at Polygon Labs, the primary goal was to align the token with the network's future needs, especially in a context where interoperability and security are paramount. POL now acts as the official gas and staking token for Polygon PoS, but its usefulness is not limited to a single chain.

One of the most notable aspects of the change was its design to ensure full compatibility. The developers ensured that the migration would not disrupt the operations of applications, users, or validators. 

Developers they worked so that the change would be imperceptible to most users, minimizing any disruption to application, user, or validator operations. This strategy allowed 99% of users to adopt POL without complications, according to data from the official dashboard.

POL and the Future of Polygon: Staking, Agglayer, and More

With POL as its new native token, Polygon is taking a decisive step towards interoperability with Agglayer, its innovative multi-chain solution. Thanks to this integration, POL will no longer be limited to just Polygon PoS and will be able to operate in a much broader environment, connecting different chains and maximizing their functionality. In addition, POL already is available for staking on Ethereum, which not only generates attractive rewards for those who participate, but also opens the door to future airdrops from projects that are gaining traction within the ecosystem, such as Katana and Miden.

On the other hand, POL's tokenomics model brings significant improvements that seek to strengthen both the network and its community over the long term. Over the next decade, 2% of emissions will be specifically dedicated to strengthening security and collective development. Of that percentage, half is allocated to validators who maintain the stability and performance of the network, while the other half is reserved in a community treasury to drive innovative initiatives led by users and developers. This structure reinforces Polygon's commitment to sustainable and collaborative growth.

In addition, POL stands out for being a hyperproductive token, designed to be much more than a simple medium of exchange within the ecosystem. Its ability to generate continuous value, whether through staking, participation in community projects, or multi-chain expansion, makes it a dynamic and constantly evolving asset, adaptable to the needs of an increasingly complex and diverse blockchain ecosystem.

What's next for POL and Polygon?

The migration to POL is almost complete, but the process doesn't stop there. The community will play a key role in upcoming updates, with the potential to incorporate new features that will make POL even more powerful. One of the most important steps will be integration with Agglayer, an advancement that will allow the network to connect to more chains and scale much more efficiently within the blockchain ecosystem.

For those who still hold MATIC tokens on the Ethereum network, the transition is still very simple. From the Polygon Portal, users can Convert your MATIC to POL with an exact 1:1 ratioThis move not only modernizes the token, but also lays the groundwork for a future where Polygon will be more interoperable and decentralized.

In short, the switch from MATIC to POL marks a turning point for Polygon, reflecting its ability to adapt and evolve to the needs of the crypto ecosystem. 

With POL as its native token, the Layer 2 network is better positioned to lead in the emerging Web 3 era, where security and interoperability will be essential. However, the true driving force behind Polygon's successful future will be the community, which now has a renewed token and greater opportunities to build a strong and promising ecosystem together.