MATIC to POL Migration: Everything You Need to Know

Understanding the POL Upgrade

After a year of community-led discussions and consensus, MATIC has been officially upgraded to POL across the entire Polygon network. This significant milestone marks a transformative moment for the Polygon ecosystem. Following the upgrade implementation, every transaction that takes place on Polygon PoS utilizes POL as the native gas token. This community-driven upgrade represents a crucial evolution as Polygon transitions into an aggregated blockchain network via Agglayer, unifying liquidity and state across a web of interconnected chains.

The MATIC to POL migration extends far beyond a simple token replacement. It represents the foundation for Polygon's vision as an ever-growing network of aggregated blockchains. At its core, POL is designed as a hyperproductive token—a utility token that, subject to future community consensus, will assume extended roles across multiple dimensions, transcending the limitations of securing a single network alone. This represents an exciting and future-proof evolution of utility token design, with significant potential for expanded capabilities.

Key Features of the MATIC to POL Migration

The transition to POL introduces several fundamental changes to the Polygon ecosystem:

Backwards Compatibility and Seamless Integration

The upgrade ensures that existing applications and users experience a seamless transition without disruption. This backwards compatibility approach facilitates a smoother upgrade process while preserving the stability of the Polygon network. Validators, delegates, applications, and users can transition smoothly from MATIC to POL without experiencing service interruptions or requiring significant infrastructure modifications.

Native Gas and Staking Token Function

POL now serves as the native gas and staking token for the Polygon PoS network. This means that POL directly secures the network, and every transaction on Polygon PoS is fueled by POL. This functional transition is fundamental to understanding how the network operates post-migration, as POL becomes the economic engine driving network security and transaction validation.

Future Utility in an Aggregated Network

With a staking hub planned for 2025, POL is positioned to support broader roles within an aggregated network architecture. The community consensus currently envisions POL playing an increasingly important role across the interconnected networks and services connected through Agglayer. This positions POL as a critical asset not just for the Polygon PoS chain, but for the entire Polygon ecosystem.

Tokenomic Enhancements

The migration introduces important tokenomic changes. The initial upgrade ratio is 1:1 between POL and MATIC, ensuring fair value preservation. However, a significant innovation includes a 2% annual emission over a decade to support network security and community development. This emission is strategically divided: half is allocated to the Polygon PoS staking contract for validator rewards that secure the network, while the other half goes to a community treasury supporting builders through a grant program overseen by an independent board accountable to the community. This emission model will continue for as long as needed, with the community maintaining the power to adjust or discontinue based on evolving network needs.

Immediate Actions Required

Understanding what actions users and developers need to take is essential for a smooth MATIC to POL transition:

For MATIC Holders on Polygon PoS

Users who hold MATIC on the Polygon PoS network will experience an automatic upgrade. POL will automatically become the native gas and staking token without requiring any manual intervention from users. However, an important consideration is that users will need to update the native token symbol in their wallet's network settings. If the token symbol is not updated, wallets may continue displaying "MATIC" as the token name instead of "POL," which could cause confusion despite the underlying token being POL.

For MATIC Holders on Ethereum

Users holding MATIC on the Ethereum mainnet must actively migrate their tokens to POL. This migration is facilitated through the Polygon Portal Interface, which provides a convenient 1:1 migration mechanism. Users should access this interface to transfer their MATIC holdings from Ethereum and receive POL on the Polygon network.

For Infrastructure Providers

Oracles, DeFi protocols, smart contract developers, wallets, bridges, RPC providers, and other infrastructure components should review comprehensive technical documentation to ensure their systems are compatible with the POL upgrade and continue functioning optimally in the new token environment.

The Future of Polygon Network

The MATIC to POL migration marks a pivotal moment in Polygon's evolution. As Polygon continues to develop into a multi-pronged, aggregated network architecture, POL will serve as a crucial component. In the current phase, POL is fundamental to the massively utilized Polygon PoS network, functioning as both the native gas and staking token. This dual functionality makes POL essential to network security and operational integrity.

The upgrade positions Polygon to achieve its long-term vision of becoming a comprehensive network of aggregated blockchains. By unifying liquidity and state across interconnected chains through Agglayer, Polygon creates an ecosystem where POL serves as the connective tissue binding together multiple blockchain networks. This architectural evolution represents a paradigm shift in how blockchain networks can operate collaboratively while maintaining individual sovereignty.

Conclusion

The MATIC to POL migration represents a historic upgrade for the Polygon ecosystem, culminating from extensive community-led discussions and consensus-building. This transition is far more than a technical token replacement; it embodies Polygon's transformation into an aggregated blockchain network with POL as its central utility token. With backwards compatibility ensuring seamless integration, enhanced tokenomics supporting long-term sustainability, and a clear roadmap for expanded utility across interconnected networks, POL is positioned to be the foundational asset powering Polygon's vision for the future of Web3. Users and developers should take the necessary steps to migrate and update their systems, ensuring they fully participate in this exciting evolution of the Polygon ecosystem.

FAQ

Why did Matic rebrand to Pol?

Matic rebranded to POL to reflect Polygon's evolution into a comprehensive blockchain platform. The name change emphasizes its expanded capabilities beyond just scaling solutions, representing a broader vision for the ecosystem.

Is there a deadline to convert MATIC to POL?

Yes, the deadline to convert MATIC to POL is August 1, 2025. After this date, automatic conversion will occur on August 7, 2025 at a 1:1 ratio. No further trades will be allowed after the cutoff date.

How do I convert my MATIC tokens to POL tokens?

MATIC tokens on Polygon PoS automatically converted to POL on September 4, 2024. For Ethereum, use the migration contract. For zkEVM, bridge to Ethereum first, then migrate.

What happens to my MATIC if I don't convert it to POL before the deadline?

If you don't convert MATIC to POL by August 1, 2025, your MATIC will automatically convert to POL at a 1:1 ratio on August 7, 2025. MATIC will be locked and unavailable for trading or withdrawal after the deadline.

Are MATIC and POL the same value, or is there an exchange rate difference?

MATIC and POL maintain a 1:1 exchange rate. As of December 2025, 1 MATIC equals 1 POL. There is no value difference between them, as POL is the upgraded token representing Polygon's ecosystem.