Polygon (POL), one of Ethereum’s leading Layer-2 scaling solutions, is facing renewed uncertainty following the resignation of co-founder Mihailo Bjelic from the Polygon Foundation board. Bjelic’s departure makes him the third co-founder to step away, leaving Sandeep Nailwal as the sole remaining founding board member.
Bjelic announced his decision publicly, citing “differing visions” as the reason for his exit. While he emphasized his continued support for the project, he made it clear he would no longer be involved in daily operations. This follows the earlier exits of Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun—Kanani stepped away after years of commitment, while Arjun pivoted to a modular blockchain initiative.
PSA: After much thought and reflection, I’ve decided to step down from the board of the Polygon Foundation, and wind down my day-to-day involvement with Polygon Labs.
— Mihailo Bjelic (@MihailoBjelic) May 23, 2025
I was introduced to crypto in 2013 (damn, time flies). By 2017, I was deep down the rabbit hole, fascinated by…
The timing of Bjelic’s exit has raised eyebrows. In early 2025, Polygon experienced a decline in network health, leading to whispers of instability within the ecosystem. Although there’s no official confirmation linking the exits to internal issues, the pattern has sparked concern among community members and investors alike.
Despite these leadership changes, Polygon continues to make technical and strategic progress. The platform has made significant strides in zero-knowledge (ZK) technology and has successfully onboarded several major brands. These milestones reflect ongoing innovation, even amid governance reshuffling.
Polygon’s rebranding journey—from Matic Network to Polygon, and now transitioning from MATIC to POL—signals a broader vision. The shift underscores the project’s focus on Ethereum scalability and Web3 infrastructure, as well as its effort to solidify POL as a foundational Layer-2 token.
Looking ahead, the Polygon community remains cautiously optimistic. The remaining leadership, led by Nailwal, is committed to advancing the network’s growth and keeping Polygon at the forefront of Ethereum scaling. As the project matures, founder exits may reflect the natural evolution of its governance rather than underlying dysfunction.
Still, with three out of four original co-founders now on the sidelines, the spotlight intensifies on Polygon’s ability to maintain momentum. The next few months could prove pivotal for POL’s reputation and long-term viability in an increasingly competitive Layer-2 landscape.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.
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