Polygon 2.0: What It Means for Polygon POS

The Polygon 2.0 roadmap, announced in 2023, envisions every Polygon chain as a ZK Layer-2, all interconnected through the AggLayer — a protocol that aggregates ZK proofs from multiple chains and enables seamless cross-chain communication. The goal is unlimited scalability with unified liquidity, solving the fragmentation that has plagued the broader Layer-2 ecosystem.

Polygon POS Upgrade to zkEVM Validium

The proposed upgrade transforms Polygon POS into a zkEVM Validium. Unlike a ZK-Rollup (like Polygon zkEVM), a Validium stores transaction data off-chain rather than on Ethereum. This preserves the low fees and high throughput of the current Polygon POS while adding ZK-proof security guarantees. The Polygon POS validator set, with over $2 billion at stake, continues to serve as the decentralized data availability layer.

The AggLayer

AggLayer is a critical piece of Polygon 2.0. It aggregates ZK proofs from multiple Polygon chains — including Polygon POS, zkEVM, and CDK chains — and submits them to Ethereum in a single proof. This makes cross-chain transactions between Polygon chains feel as seamless as transactions within a single chain. Liquidity becomes unified across the ecosystem.

POL Token Migration

As part of Polygon 2.0, the network's native token migrated from MATIC to POL in 2024. POL is designed as a multi-chain staking token: validators can validate any Polygon chain using a single POL stake. This simplifies the economic model and aligns incentives across the entire ecosystem. POL is the gas token on Polygon POS.

Impact on Developers and Users

For existing users and developers on Polygon POS, the Polygon 2.0 upgrades are designed to be transparent. All deployed applications continue working. Fees remain low. The only visible change is enhanced security and better cross-chain interoperability. The upgrade represents a significant leap forward in making Polygon POS a truly decentralized, cryptographically secure Layer-2 solution.