Polygon Shake-Up: Co-Founder Mihailo Bjelic Steps Down, Vows to “Cheer from the Sidelines”

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Mihailo Bjelic, co-founder of Ethereum layer-2 giant Polygon, revealed he is stepping down from his role at Polygon Labs and the Polygon Foundation board. In a statement shared on X, Bjelic said the decision came after “much thought and reflection,” and noted that although he is exiting daily operations, he will continue to support the project “from the sidelines.”

“As projects evolve and mature, it is natural for visions to evolve, and sometimes diverge,” Bjelic said. “With this in mind, I can no longer contribute to Polygon to the best of my abilities.”

Community Reacts to Bjelic’s Exit

The news sparked reactions across the crypto landscape, with many hailing Bjelic’s significant contributions. Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal called him “a force behind so much of what makes Polygon what it is today.” Others, like Polygon’s head of marketing Leon Stern, praised his leadership, saying, “We’re going to miss him.”

The sentiment was echoed by Skale Network CEO Jack O’Holleran, who said Bjelic should be proud of all he has achieved at Polygon. Meanwhile, Aave-chan Initiative founder Marc Zella called his departure a “Big L for Polygon.”

No Plans Revealed, But Crypto Passion Remains

While Bjelic has yet to outline his next move, he assured followers that he remains “as passionate as ever” about crypto and hinted that he would remain active in the space. “You will likely still see me around,” he noted.

His departure follows a pattern, as earlier Polygon co-founders Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun also exited. Arjun now leads the Web3 data layer spin-off, Avail, as an independent entity.

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Polygon Marches On With Major Developments

Despite the leadership shake-up, Polygon continues to advance its ecosystem. In March, DigiShares launched RealEstate.Exchange on Polygon to bring tokenized real estate to the blockchain. And in January, Indian telecom giant Jio Platforms partnered with Polygon Labs to upgrade digital services with Web3 capabilities.

Bjelic’s resignation marks the end of an era but also the beginning of a new phase for Polygon. While the team will miss his leadership, the broader crypto community will be watching closely to see where he channels his passion next.

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.