TLDR:
Polygon is migrating from MATIC to POL token on September 4, 2024
POL will be the new native gas and staking token for Polygon PoS chain
The migration is part of Polygon’s 2.0 roadmap towards a zkEVM system
Initial exchange ratio is 1:1, with 2% annual emissions over 10 years
MATIC holders on Polygon PoS don’t need to take action; others may need to manually migrate
On September 4, 2024, Polygon, the popular Ethereum scaling solution, initiated a ransition by migrating its native token from MATIC to POL.
This change marks a crucial step in Polygon’s development roadmap, known as Polygon 2.0, which aims to evolve the network into a zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM) system.
The migration process replaces MATIC with POL as the primary gas and staking token for the Polygon Proof-of-Stake (PoS) chain.
According to Polygon Labs CEO Marc Boiron, this upgrade was necessary due to technical limitations of the MATIC token, whose upgrade keys were intentionally burned years ago. The introduction of POL allows for more flexibility in token issuance and ecosystem growth.
we interrupt your doomscroll with another reminder MATIC will be upgraded to POL tomorrow 
the tl;dr for the hyperproductive token: https://t.co/brdQT9WeFa pic.twitter.com/D63qiqdZPX
— Polygon | Aggregated (@0xPolygon) September 3, 2024
Under the new tokenomics, POL will have an annual emission rate of 2% over ten years. This controlled inflation is designed to support ecosystem growth and provide ongoing rewards for validators. The initial exchange ratio between MATIC and POL is set at 1:1, maintaining the existing supply of 10 billion tokens.
For most users, particularly those holding MATIC on the Polygon PoS chain, the migration will occur automatically without any required action.
However, MATIC holders on other networks such as Ethereum or Polygon zkEVM, as well as those using centralized exchanges, will need to manually migrate their tokens to POL.
Polygon has provided a migration contract to facilitate this process, though they caution that it’s intended for advanced users.
The POL token is expected to play a broader role in Polygon’s future developments. It will be integral to the AggLayer, a system designed to aggregate liquidity and state across multiple chains within the Polygon ecosystem.
POL will support functions such as block generation, zero-knowledge proof generation, and participation in Data Availability Committees (DACs) as part of the Polygon staking hub, set to launch in 2025.
This migration also introduces a community treasury, funded by a portion of the POL emissions. This treasury aims to support ecosystem growth through grants and community-controlled initiatives.
Boiron emphasized that this feature was impossible with the previous MATIC token structure.
The transition to POL is not just a token swap but a strategic move to enhance Polygon’s capabilities. It allows for more decentralized governance and provides a mechanism to incentivize validators across various chains in the Polygon ecosystem, even those without their own native tokens.
As of the migration date, Polygon’s market capitalization stood at approximately $3.8 billion, ranking it as the 13th largest digital asset in the CoinDesk 20 index.
The successful implementation of this upgrade is crucial for Polygon’s ambitions to become a leading player in the Ethereum scaling landscape.
While there is currently no deadline for MATIC holders on Ethereum and Polygon zkEVM to convert their tokens to POL, the Polygon community may establish one in the future. Exchanges are expected to list the upgraded POL token, facilitating wider adoption and liquidity.
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