In a defining shift for the blockchain protocol, co-founder Sandeep Nailwal has stepped into the role of CEO at the Polygon Foundation—the parent entity overseeing Polygon Labs and related projects—as the organization undertakes a broad strategic reshaping.
Governance Overhaul & Leadership Consolidation
Previously governed by the original co-founders, the Polygon Foundation is now under Nailwal’s singular leadership following the departure of Mihailo Bjelic in May. This marks the first time the foundation appoints a CEO, consolidating leadership to expedite decision-making and strategy execution.
Zero-to-One” Strategic Pivot
In a keynote statement on X, Nailwal emphasized the need for a return to visionary, startup-style execution:
> “Polygon needs clear direction and focused execution,” he wrote.
Key priorities include:
AggLayer: A renewed emphasis on the cross-chain liquidity protocol with version 0.3 slated for late June.
Polygon PoS → “GigaGAS”: Scaling the current Proof-of-Stake chain to achieve up to 100,000 TPS, with initial testnet speeds already exceeding 1,000 TPS.
Phasing Out zkEVM
Polygon will sunset its zkEVM mainnet in 2026 after a 12-month phase-out period for sequencer support. The decision is attributed to low adoption, technical limitations, and strategic reallocation of resources.
Team Evolution & Ecosystem Refocus
With co-founder Jordi Baylina leaving to launch the ZisK project, the foundation reaffirms its commitment to zero-knowledge research via neutral spin-off pathways. Meanwhile, core development and ecosystem efforts are now concentrated on AggLayer and PoS.
Treasury Strength & Token Momentum
Nailwal highlights a “multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar” treasury, enabling sustained development sans fundraising. He also notes that regulatory relief—particularly the SEC’s discontinuation of MATIC (now POL) investigations—has invigorated market maker participation and liquidity.
What It Means for Stakeholders
Developers & Builders: Expect sharper guidance and more streamlined tooling focused on high-throughput and real-world asset use cases.
POL Stakers: Benefit from network upgrades, airdrops via AggLayer Breakout, and improved liquidity driven by active market-making.
Cross-Chain Integration: AggLayer is now central to Polygon’s vision of building a “trustless Internet of Blockchains.”
