What is expected in the development of POL?

Polygon is moving forward with several key updates:

1. AggLayer Fast Interoperability (Q1 2026) – This will enable quick and secure transfers between different Polygon chains without relying on trusted middlemen.
2. Staking Hub Launch (2026) – POL holders will be able to stake their tokens across multiple Polygon chains and earn rewards in various tokens.
3. Gigagas Throughput Targets (2026) – Polygon PoS aims to handle up to 100,000 transactions per second (TPS), making it suitable for large-scale payment systems.
4. zkEVM Sunset (2026) – Polygon will phase out its zkEVM chain to focus more on PoS and AggLayer development.

Deep Dive

1. AggLayer Fast Interoperability (Q1 2026)

Overview:
AggLayer v0.3, originally planned for mid-2025, will introduce a fast interoperability feature. This is a trustless bridge that connects different Polygon chains, allowing assets and data to move quickly and securely between them. The goal is to cut down cross-chain transaction times from several minutes to just seconds (Coinspeaker).

What this means:
This upgrade is positive for POL because smoother cross-chain experiences can attract more developers and institutional users, boosting network activity. However, delays or technical challenges could slow down enthusiasm.

2. Staking Hub Launch (2026)

Overview:
The upcoming staking hub will let POL holders stake their tokens across multiple Polygon chains, such as PoS and Miden, at the same time. They will earn rewards not only in POL but also in partner tokens. This supports Polygon 2.0’s goal of creating a unified ecosystem (Polygon Blog).

What this means:
This is somewhat positive because it encourages long-term holding and network security. Its success depends on how many validators join and the demand for staking across different chains.

3. Gigagas Throughput Targets (2026)

Overview:
Polygon’s Gigagas plan aims to reach 100,000 TPS on its PoS chain by 2026. This would support real-world asset settlements and small payments at scale. Recent improvements like Heimdall v2 have already increased throughput to 5,000 TPS (CoinMarketCap).

What this means:
If achieved, this would be very positive for POL, positioning it as a strong platform for high-volume financial transactions. Still, there are risks from competing solutions, including Ethereum’s own scaling upgrades.

4. zkEVM Sunset (2026)

Overview:
Polygon plans to retire its zkEVM chain in 2026 to focus resources on PoS and AggLayer. Projects currently on zkEVM will move to chains compatible with AggLayer (Community Post).

What this means:
This is a short-term negative for developers working on zkEVM but positive for POL in the long run, as it simplifies and strengthens the overall ecosystem.

Conclusion

Polygon’s roadmap focuses on improving scalability (Gigagas), cross-chain connectivity (AggLayer), and staking options to make POL the core token of its multi-chain future. Key challenges include potential delays and competition from other Ethereum Layer 2 solutions. The big question is whether AggLayer can attract more developers than rivals like Arbitrum.

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What updates are there in the POL code base?

Polygon’s technology received major updates in 2025, focusing on making the network faster, more secure, and easier to use.

1. Madhugiri Hardfork (Dec 9, 2025) – Increased transaction speed by 33% and introduced flexible block timing.
2. Heimdall v2 Mainnet (July 10, 2025) – Improved transaction finality speed and upgraded the core consensus system.
3. MATIC→POL Migration (Ongoing) – Nearly 98% complete, expanding the token’s uses and strengthening the network.

Deep Dive

1. Madhugiri Hardfork (Dec 9, 2025)

What happened: This update boosted the network’s capacity by a third and cut the time it takes to confirm transactions to just 1 second. Future upgrades can now be done by adjusting settings instead of requiring major software changes.
Key improvements included flexible block intervals (PIP-75) and better syncing for network nodes (PIP-74). Polygon also adopted Ethereum improvements (EIPs 7823, 7825, 7883) to lower transaction costs and secure complex operations.
Why it matters: Faster and cheaper transactions make Polygon more attractive for everyday payments and institutional uses like stablecoins, which is good news for POL holders. (Source)

2. Heimdall v2 Mainnet (July 10, 2025)

What happened: Polygon upgraded its consensus mechanism from Tendermint to CometBFT, reducing the time it takes for transactions to be finalized to about 5 seconds and removing outdated code.
This upgrade lowered technical risks and improved security, especially important for regulated financial applications. Node operators needed to update their software to avoid syncing problems.
Why it matters: While there were some short-term risks during the upgrade, this change strengthens Polygon’s position in decentralized finance (DeFi) by making transactions final faster and more securely. (Source)

3. MATIC→POL Migration (Ongoing)

What happened: As of August 2025, nearly 98% of MATIC tokens have been swapped for POL. This shift centralizes key network functions like staking, transaction fees, and cross-chain security around POL.
The migration supports Polygon 2.0’s goal of a unified ecosystem by enabling POL to secure multiple blockchains through a system called AggLayer.
Why it matters: Reducing the supply of MATIC tokens may lower selling pressure, while the expanded role of POL encourages holders to keep their tokens longer, which is positive for the network’s health. (Source)

Conclusion

Polygon’s 2025 upgrades focus on making the network faster (Madhugiri), more secure (Heimdall v2), and more connected (POL migration). With transaction speeds approaching 5,000 per second and growing adoption by businesses, POL’s foundation is getting stronger. The integration of AggLayer could be the next big step in enabling seamless activity across multiple blockchains.

What could affect the price of POL?

Polygon (POL) is at a crucial point, balancing important technical upgrades with challenges in the market.

1. AggLayer Adoption – Expanding cross-chain use could increase POL’s value if more projects start using it (Mixed Impact)
2. MATIC Migration Overhang – About 2.17% of MATIC tokens still need to be converted to POL, which may cause selling pressure (Bearish Impact)
3. Enterprise Payment Growth – Partnerships with companies like Revolut and Stripe are driving real-world use and transaction volume (Bullish Impact)

Deep Dive

1. AggLayer Cross-Chain Expansion (Mixed Impact)

Overview:
Polygon’s AggLayer is designed to connect liquidity across different Ethereum Layer 2 networks and independent blockchains. The upcoming version 1.2 aims to handle 5,000 transactions per second by early 2026. However, success depends on getting major decentralized finance (DeFi) applications on board. So far, only 12% of the top 50 dApps have committed to using it.

What this means:
If AggLayer works as planned, POL could become essential for moving assets across different blockchains smoothly. But if adoption is slow (as noted by Najavof.eth), the token might not see much growth. The price will likely improve only if the total value locked (TVL) in AggLayer grows significantly after the upgrades in early 2026.

2. MATIC-to-POL Migration Drag (Bearish Impact)

Overview:
Most MATIC tokens (97.83%) have been converted to POL, according to Polygon. However, about 230 million MATIC tokens (worth roughly $27.8 million) are still on Ethereum and zkEVM networks. Additionally, Bithumb exchange has paused POL deposits and withdrawals until December 16, which could reduce demand temporarily.

What this means:
The remaining MATIC tokens may be sold off gradually, especially from wallets that are not actively used. This selling pressure could continue into the first quarter of 2026. Until the migration is fully complete, POL faces more risk from these potential sell-offs than it gains from the benefits of the migration.

3. Payment Rail Monetization (Bullish Impact)

Overview:
POL is processing $1.82 billion in payment volume every quarter through partnerships with Revolut, Stripe, and Shopify—a 49% increase from the previous quarter. Mastercard’s Crypto Credential, which uses Polygon, settles over $50 million monthly in USDC and POL transactions.

What this means:
For every 10% increase in payment volume, Polygon earns about $4.8 million annually from fees (0.05% of transaction volume). If this growth continues, these fees could cover about 18% of POL’s inflation by 2026, according to StarPlatinum.

Conclusion

Polygon’s future depends on successfully scaling its technology with AggLayer and growing its real-world payment use. While the remaining MATIC migration and competition from other Layer 2 solutions present short-term challenges, Revolut’s large user base (220 million users) offers a strong advantage for adoption. The key questions are whether Polygon can turn this enterprise momentum into increased staking demand before inflation reduces the value for holders. Keep an eye on the MATIC migration progress and AggLayer’s TVL growth in early 2026.

What are people saying about POL?

Polygon’s POL token is navigating growing business use alongside some challenges from its recent changes. Here’s what’s happening:

1. AggLayer upgrades are boosting Polygon’s plans to connect multiple blockchains 🚀
2. 97.8% of MATIC tokens have been swapped to POL, but selling pressure remains ⚖️
3. New partnerships with Stripe and Revolut highlight Polygon’s growing role in everyday payments 💳

In-Depth Look

1. Enterprise Adoption Reaches New Heights — Positive for POL

"Polygon handled $1.82 billion in payment volume in Q3, up 49% from the previous quarter. Stripe alone processed over $50 million in stablecoin transactions. Big names like BlackRock, Mastercard, and Shopify are building on Polygon."
– @StarPlatinum ([original post](https://x.com/StarPlatinum/status/1989397745157980496))
What this means: This is good news for POL because more business transactions mean more demand for the network, which can increase the value of POL through higher usage and staking activity.

2. Migration Challenges vs. Polygon 2.0 Benefits — Mixed Outlook

"POL now secures Polygon’s unified Layer 2 ecosystem. However, selling pressure from the MATIC to POL token swap and competition from other Layer 2 solutions like Arbitrum and Base could keep prices below $0.12 for a while."
– @Nicat053nn (original post)
What this means: This is a mixed signal for POL. While the upgrade to Polygon 2.0 improves how the token works, ongoing selling and competition may limit short-term price gains.

3. TVL Growth Sparks Optimism — Cautiously Positive

"POL’s total value locked (TVL) reached $1.23 billion with over 45,000 decentralized apps (dApps). Analysts predict a possible 2x price rally if POL breaks the $0.23 resistance level, but current market fear (Crypto Fear & Greed Index at 29) is holding back enthusiasm."
– @Tokocrypto (original post)
What this means: This is cautiously optimistic for POL. The growing TVL shows the ecosystem is healthy, but overall market uncertainty could delay price breakthroughs.

Summary

The outlook for POL is mixed. Strong business adoption and technical upgrades support long-term growth, but selling pressure from the token migration and market sentiment create short-term challenges. Despite these hurdles, partnerships with payment platforms like Stripe and Revolut reinforce Polygon’s real-world use case. Keep an eye on the 7-day POL staking APY (currently not reported); rising rates could indicate growing confidence from network validators after the migration.

What is the latest news about POL?

Polygon is making important network upgrades and forming strategic partnerships, while its token, POL, shows mixed signals in the market. Here’s a quick summary of the latest updates:

1. Madhugiri Hardfork Activated (December 9, 2025) – Boosts transaction capacity by 33% and speeds up block processing.
2. Revolut Launches EU Crypto Buying (December 11, 2025) – Users can now buy crypto directly into self-custody wallets via Trust Wallet on Polygon.
3. Bithumb POL Maintenance Scheduled (December 16, 2025) – Temporary pause on POL deposits and withdrawals for network upgrades.

In-Depth Look

1. Madhugiri Hardfork Activated (December 9, 2025)

What Happened:
Polygon upgraded its network by increasing the block gas limit from 30 million to 45 million. This means the network can now handle about 33% more transactions per block. The upgrade also speeds up the time it takes to confirm transactions to just one second. Additionally, Polygon added new security features from Ethereum’s Fusaka EIPs (7823, 7825, 7883) to better protect complex operations.

Why It Matters:
This upgrade strengthens Polygon’s ability to support high-usage applications like stablecoins and real-world assets (RWAs). However, despite these technical improvements, POL’s price remains low at around $0.12, indicating that investors are still cautious. The upgrade makes Polygon a more scalable platform for payments, but wider adoption is needed to increase the token’s value.
(Source: CoinMarketCap)

2. Revolut Launches EU Crypto Buying (December 11, 2025)

What Happened:
Revolut, a popular financial app, teamed up with Trust Wallet to let users in the European Union buy cryptocurrencies instantly. These purchases go directly into self-custody wallets on the Polygon network. Supported coins include BTC, ETH, SOL, USDC, and USDT, with some transactions having no fees.

Why It Matters:
This development is somewhat positive for POL. It expands Polygon’s use in real-world payments and aligns with its goal to provide secure, compliant infrastructure for institutions. However, Revolut’s support for Polygon is still limited, and Polygon faces competition from other networks like Solana and Base.
(Source: CoinDesk)

3. Bithumb POL Maintenance Scheduled (December 16, 2025)

What Happened:
South Korea’s Bithumb exchange will temporarily stop POL deposits and withdrawals starting December 16 to support Polygon’s network upgrades. Trading of POL will continue during this time, and normal services will resume after maintenance.

Why It Matters:
This is a routine pause common during network upgrades and is neutral for POL. However, since POL’s price has dropped about 29% in the past month, this maintenance could cause short-term price swings. The upgrade aims to improve Polygon’s ability to work across multiple blockchains, which is important for its growth.
(Source: CoinMarketCap)

Conclusion

Polygon’s recent upgrades and partnerships show its commitment to scaling and enabling real-world payment solutions. Still, POL’s price remains flat, reflecting cautious market sentiment. The big question is whether institutional support—like Revolut’s integration and BlackRock’s tokenized funds—will help POL overcome bearish trends, or if competitors like Arbitrum will take the lead in the next phase. Keep an eye on adoption of AggLayer technology and stablecoin activity for signs of what’s next.

Why did the price of POL go up?

Polygon (POL) increased by 2.11% in the last 24 hours, outperforming its 7-day decline of 3.08% and 30-day drop of 30.29%. This rise is linked to positive network upgrades and new partnerships. Key factors include:

1. Madhugiri Hardfork Upgrade – Technical improvements that boosted speed and security.
2. Revolut Integration – POL added to Revolut’s crypto buying options in Europe, making it easier to access.
3. MATIC-to-POL Migration – Nearly complete transition, reducing pressure from the older token.

Detailed Overview

1. Madhugiri Hardfork Upgrade (Positive Impact)

What happened: On December 9, Polygon launched the Madhugiri hardfork, which increased the block gas limit by 33% and shortened the block consensus time to 1 second. This upgrade included Ethereum’s Fusaka EIPs (7823, 7825, 7883), which help limit gas costs for complex transactions and improve security.

Why it matters: These changes make Polygon’s Proof-of-Stake (PoS) network faster and more efficient, which is important for handling real-world assets and stablecoins—key areas Polygon Labs is focusing on (Coinspeaker). This upgrade coincides with a slight recovery after POL hit a low of $0.117 on December 2.

What to watch: Continued developer activity and adoption of new transaction types that connect Ethereum and Polygon.

2. Revolut Adds Polygon (Positive Impact)

What happened: On December 11, Revolut and Trust Wallet enabled instant POL purchases in the European Union, allowing users to transfer POL directly to their own wallets. This follows Revolut’s earlier addition of POL staking and stablecoin payments in November.

Why it matters: With over 65 million users, Revolut’s support could increase retail demand for POL. Polygon’s payment system processed $1.82 billion in the third quarter of 2025, a 49% increase from the previous quarter (Messari Report via X).

What to watch: Increases in POL transactions linked to Revolut and stablecoin inflows.

3. MATIC-to-POL Migration Nears Completion (Mixed Impact)

What happened: More than 99% of MATIC tokens have been migrated to POL, according to Polygon’s November 2025 data. Exchanges like Bithumb will temporarily suspend POL deposits and withdrawals on December 16 for system upgrades.

Why it matters: This reduces selling pressure from the older MATIC token and shifts focus fully to POL as the main token in the ecosystem. However, some short-term price fluctuations may occur during the final migration steps.

What to watch: Validator participation after migration and adoption of AggLayer for cross-chain liquidity.

Conclusion

POL’s recent 24-hour gain shows growing confidence in its technical improvements and easier access through Revolut, despite overall market caution (CMC Fear & Greed Index at 29). While the Madhugiri hardfork and MATIC phase-out strengthen Polygon’s foundation, POL is still 81% below its 2024 high, reflecting ongoing market risks.

Key point to monitor: Whether POL can stay above its 7-day simple moving average ($0.122) to confirm a trend reversal, or if Bithumb’s maintenance will lead to profit-taking. Also, keep an eye on Polygon’s stablecoin total value locked (TVL), currently over $3 billion, as a sign of growing institutional interest.

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