Network profile: Polygon PoS (POL, previously MATIC)

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• Network name

  Polygon Proof of Stake (PoS)

• Token

  POL (previously MATIC)

• RPC

  https://polygon-rpc.com/

• Chain ID

  137

• Block explorer

  Polygonscan

• Website

  polygon.technology

  nota

  Polygon is upgrading MATIC to POL. Learn about it and how to upgrade/migrate your tokens (if necessary) here.

Polygon styles itself as "Ethereum's internet of blockchains". In short, Polygon is a collection of tools and features which improve the scalability of Ethereum and connect EVM-compatible networks.

Recognizing that high demand for Ethereum mainnet has increased transaction fees and congestion, Polygon's solutions are intended to expand capacity and dramatically reduce transaction costs for users. Founded as Matic Network in 2017, the project has since rebranded and upgraded its token from MATIC to POL.

From a user perspective, the main element of the Polygon project is likely to be the Polygon PoS (Proof of Stake) network and Polygon zkEVM network. Polygon PoS is an EVM-compatible, proof-of-stake sidechain for Ethereum; Polygon zkEVM is an EVM-equivalent, Layer 2 network for Ethereum.

Polygon has a highly active ecosystem of dapps, including DeFi, gaming, and NFTs — all recorded here.

Using Polygon

MetaMask supports Polygon PoS

Polygon PoS is EVM-compatible which means you can use your MetaMask wallet to access dapps on the network. You will have the same address. You just need to make sure you have added the network in MetaMask, and switch between Ethereum and Polygon PoS as appropriate.

ERC-20 POL (previously MATIC) vs. POL (previously MATIC) on Polygon PoS

POL is the native token on Polygon PoS—the token used to pay gas (transaction fees). On Ethereum, POL is just another ERC-20 token.

If you want to use ERC-20 POL on Polygon PoS, you must use a bridge to swap your ERC-20 POL 1:1 for Polygon network POL (see below).

Can I send POL from one MetaMask wallet to another without bridging?

Yes, just make sure you have the right network selected and that you have the token added, and your tokens will be visible.

for example:

Let's say you have two MetaMask addresses — wallet A and wallet B. Wallet A holds 100 MATIC on the Polygon PoS network. If you send 10 MATIC to wallet B without bridging, all you need to do to access those tokens is switch wallet B to the Polygon PoS network, and they will be there (assuming the transaction is complete and that the tokens have been added)

However, if you wish to transfer your POL from Polygon PoS to Ethereum (convert them into ERC-20) or vice versa, you will need to use a bridge.

Using bridges

You can bridge to and from Polygon PoS using the Bridge feature in MetaMask Portfolio, here.

Another alternative is the Polygon bridge, which lets you exchange ERC-20 (Ethereum network) POL for POL that you can use on Polygon PoS, and vice versa. Simply connect your MetaMask wallet, and choose how much you want to deposit.

Does Polygon use my normal MetaMask address?

Yes. Polygon PoS is EVM-compatible, so an Ethereum wallet address (such as your MetaMask address) can be used as an address on Polygon.

Can I buy POL tokens on Polygon PoS directly?

Yes, if you want to buy POL usable on Polygon PoS, you could:

• Buy directly using MetaMask.
• Buy POL from an exchange that supports Polygon PoS, such as Binance.com (n.b.: not Binance.us) or Crypto.com. When withdrawing to the wallet you want to use for transactions on Polygon, select Polygon PoS as the network and paste your wallet address (if there is an option).

I sent Polygon network POL to a wallet that does not support the tokens. Can I get them back?

If the wallet you sent the tokens to is EVM-compatible, see if you can export your private key.

Once you have it, import the wallet into MetaMask. Once the import is complete, you can add the Polygon PoS network to that account and view the tokens.

However, if you sent the tokens to a wallet you do not control--e.g. by inputting the wrong address--you cannot use this method to get the tokens back.

Relevant support articles

How to send tokens from your MetaMask wallet

User guide: Tokens

User Guide: Custom networks and sidechains

Useful resources

Analyzing Polygon's Proof of Stake Network (Consensys Blog)

Polygon ecosystem (register of Polygon dapps)