Polygon overview
POL is the native asset of the Polygon network. It replaces MATIC and is used for gas fees, network security and governance. The Polygon PoS chain is Ethereum-compatible, which makes it easy to migrate dapps, and its low fees are driving fast adoption in payments, gaming and real-world asset tokenization.
What POL is
POL is the native asset of the Polygon network. It pays transaction fees, serves as collateral for the people who validate the chain, and is used in governance decisions about the protocol.
It succeeds the MATIC ticker. Since 2024, gas and staking on Polygon PoS have been denominated in POL. Some exchanges still display the old name, so confirm that the asset you are withdrawing is POL before you send it.
How Polygon relates to Ethereum
Ethereum is secure, but fees rise and confirmation slows when demand spikes. Polygon PoS is built so applications can use the same development model as Ethereum while keeping fees lower and throughput higher.
That is why payments, games and tokenized real-world assets show up here often. Polygon is closer to a faster lane beside Ethereum than to a chain trying to replace it.
What happens when you stake
Polygon produces blocks with proof of stake. Validators lock POL and check that transactions follow the rules. Honest work is paid from newly issued POL and a share of fees. Deliberately breaking the rules can destroy part of the locked amount. That penalty is called slashing.
폴리젠 runs the validator operations. You choose an amount and a term. Rewards accrue in POL at the rate shown when you applied, and you cannot withdraw before the term ends.
- Rewards are calculated in POL, not in fiat currency.
- A longer term has a higher annualized rate, and the assets stay locked for that whole term.
- Deposits are accepted on Polygon PoS mainnet only. POL sent over Ethereum is a different transfer.
Risks to read before you lock
A wrong network is difficult to recover on a public chain. Compare the first and last characters of the address, and send a small test amount first when the transfer is large.
This information is for reference only and is not investment advice.