Published byPolygonPOSvsPolygon.com
DateMarch 2026
POL, formerly known as MATIC, is the native token of the Polygon network. In 2024, Polygon completed the migration from MATIC to POL as part of the Polygon 2.0 upgrade. POL serves as the gas token on Polygon POS, the staking token for validators, and a governance token across the Polygon ecosystem.
The transition from MATIC to POL was a deliberate evolution. While MATIC served primarily as the gas and staking token on Polygon POS, POL is designed as a multi-chain utility token for the entire Polygon 2.0 ecosystem. Validators can use a single POL stake to validate any Polygon chain, simplifying the economic model and enabling better capital efficiency across the network.
POL's Core Functions
POL serves three primary roles. First, it is the gas token on Polygon POS — every transaction on the network requires POL to pay fees. Second, validators stake POL to participate in the network's Proof-of-Stake consensus and earn rewards for honest behavior. Third, POL holders participate in governance, voting on protocol upgrades and parameter changes that shape the direction of the Polygon ecosystem.
Staking POL
Token holders who do not run their own validator node can delegate their POL to trusted validators and earn staking rewards proportional to their stake. This mechanism secures the network by aligning incentives: validators who behave honestly earn more rewards, while those who misbehave risk having their stake slashed. The network currently has over 100 active validators with over $2 billion in total POL staked.
POL Supply and Tokenomics
The original MATIC token had a capped supply of 10 billion tokens. The POL migration introduced a new supply model designed to support multi-chain validator rewards across the expanding Polygon 2.0 ecosystem. The Community Treasury, funded in January 2024 with approximately $640 million worth of tokens, provides ongoing grants and incentives for projects building within the Polygon ecosystem.
MATIC vs POL: What Users Need to Know
If you hold MATIC, you can migrate to POL through the official Polygon migration contract. The migration is a one-way process. On exchanges, POL may still be listed as MATIC or POL depending on the platform. For users transacting on Polygon POS, the experience is identical — you still pay for gas with the network's native token, now called POL.
November 13, 2023