13 Aug AMA with Polygon (Sandeep Naiwal) – Hosted by Bitfinex & BitfreedomGus
Since its founding, Polygon has grown into one of the extensively used blockchains in DeFi, driving innovation throughout scalability, person expertise, and multi-chain structure. The improve from MATIC to POL marked a pivotal step in aligning the community’s tokenomics with its long-term imaginative and prescient, making certain higher utility for holders and stakers throughout its increasing ecosystem.
Now, with the launch of Agglayer, Polygon is making a extra sturdy and interconnected surroundings for builders, aiming to unify the fragmented Web3 panorama and ship a seamless, internet-like expertise for the way forward for decentralised functions.
On 8 August 2025, Bitfinex hosted an AMA discussing these developments and Polygon’s imaginative and prescient for the long run. Take pleasure in!
Bitfinex: Hey everybody and welcome to a different unique Bitfinex AMA! I’m BitfreedomGus, and at present I’ve the pleasure of welcoming Sandeep Nailwal, Founder and CEO of Polygon.
Polygon has opened the doorways to DeFi for tens of millions of customers, and now it takes a daring step in direction of unifying all the things in crypto. As we method virtually one yr for the reason that improve from MATIC to POL, we’ll check out what this transition has meant for the community and discover the subsequent chapters in Polygon’s journey, corresponding to the brand new Agglayer, which I’m personally curious to be taught extra about.
Sandeep Nailwal, welcome. It’s nice to have you ever right here with the Bitfinex neighborhood.
Sandeep Nailwal: Hey BitFreedomGus, excited to be right here! Bitfinex was the second alternate I ever used after Poloniex. Once I first signed up on Bitfinex, it was a large step up when it comes to UX in comparison with Poloniex.
Bitfinex: Superior! Seems to be like we’ve bought a few OGs right here!
Sandeep Nailwal: So an extended historical past with Bitfinex for me, it’s a full circle second for me to be right here with you guys. Honoured!
Bitfinex: To start, might you share about your background and what downside you have been most obsessed with fixing when Polygon was created?
Sandeep Nailwal: I come from a really humble background in India the place I needed to begin supporting my family with revenue at a really early age. I felt that life didn’t present equal alternative for all of us. Just a little bit right here and there and I might’ve been working in an outdated cellular restore store in Delhi, India. The Web supplied me the chance to grasp my potential and be right here in entrance of all of you and be no less than considerably heard.
I feel crypto has even greater potential relating to empowerment of each particular person human being. And that’s the primary mindset I’ve to be working in crypto. Polygon particularly…
I really feel that for Polygon, I feel the blockchain and crypto business is rising and since day 0 our purpose was to offer the large scalability to crypto for it to go to billions of customers.
The purpose of Polygon is to allow all app builders, whether or not they’re constructing on one shared blockchain like Polygon POS or they need their very own chains, they can construct it trustlessly and securely whereas protecting the person expertise as seamless as doable.
The customers ought to have the ability to use their cash and do with it no matter they need, wherever they need, each time they need.
So Polygon is attempting to construct an Web of interconnected blockchains who host end-user apps on 1000’s of blockchains however for finish customers, it appears like one single blockchain, similar to on the Web you as a person are related to at least one single web, and never web of USA, web of Italy, Web of India and so forth.
Web is one web.
Equally, the blockchains needs to be one single blockchain from the top person perspective.
Sorry for the lengthy reply however this subject is so near my coronary heart.
Bitfinex: Don’t fear, we admire this masterclass. What made you’re taking up the place of CEO at Polygon Basis?
Sandeep Nailwal: The construction on the basis wasn’t constructed for velocity. With a number of founders concerned and an excessive amount of overlap in roles, it turned troublesome to maneuver rapidly and clarify selections. I stepped in as CEO of the Polygon Basis to carry sharper focus and assist us execute extra successfully throughout the board.
Marc Boiron, who I consider is without doubt one of the most succesful CEOs within the business, had already spent the previous few years rebuilding the Polygon Labs staff right into a high-performing organisation. Due to that basis, we have been ready to start out delivering virtually instantly.
In simply the previous few months, we’ve constructed a transparent roadmap for our key merchandise. Polygon PoS is without doubt one of the most generally used public blockchains and helps builders construct low-cost, quick functions which might be simple to make use of. We now have a transparent roadmap to make it even quicker, in an effort to help world funds and RWAs, leaning into the areas the place it’s already wonderful. The Agglayer is constructed to assist not solely Polygon, however any chain, by unifying all of crypto. It’s our new coordination layer that connects totally different chains right into a single, seamless community, with an emphasis on person expertise that can really feel just like the web everyone knows. Each are essential to our long-term imaginative and prescient.
We’re now in full delivery mode. We’re shifting quick on funds, together with main upgrades to the mainchain, and launching formidable initiatives just like the Agglayer Breakout Programme and Katana with GSR.
Bitfinex: Thanks once more, Sandeep Nailwal. After years of growth, how has the imaginative and prescient for Polygon developed?
Sandeep Nailwal: So Polygon began as a single chain, Polygon PoS, which at present is without doubt one of the largest chains when it comes to each day lively customers for stablecoins and lots of different use instances.
However over time we realised that no single blockchain can cater to the Web3 apps of your complete world. It’s like saying that every one the apps on the web might be constructed on one single knowledge server or one single knowledge centre.
It’s not true; enterprises need to construct on totally different sorts of architectures. DeFi wants a unique form of structure, video games want a unique structure and so forth. It’s improper to assume that any single blockchain will get all of the apps of Web3.
Therefore Polygon is at present centered and architected as a multichain ecosystem. We now have one chain, Polygon PoS, which may be very standard, however our key product is Agglayer, which is a trustless, chain sovereignty and independence-focused chain cluster.
So at present, Polygon is Polygon PoS plus Agglayer, That already has some standard chains like Wilder World, Katana, Lumia and lots of extra.
Bitfinex: Superb. And with that developed imaginative and prescient, what’s the newest with Polygon?
Sandeep Nailwal: Proper now, we’re centered on three massive objectives.
➜ First, we’re creating Polygon PoS into the quickest funds chain on the market. The gigagas roadmap we launched can carry speeds that rival and surpass techniques like Visa. We wish individuals to have the ability to ship cash or make purchases immediately and at virtually no price.
To make that occur, we’re upgrading the know-how behind Polygon and dealing carefully with groups like Flipkart, Seize, and Reliance Jio, who’re constructing actual cost use instances with us.
➜ Second, we’re working to get the primary model of Agglayer out by the top of the yr. Though it’s reside proper now, not all of the premium options can be found that can make customers’ lives simpler.
Agglayer is a big step ahead in crypto. Right now, blockchains are disconnected, utterly separate from each other. There’s no single place the place crypto occurs, however a patchwork of momentary fixes that bridge blockchains collectively.
The Agglayer is designed to attach all of them within the background, just like how the web connects individuals all over the world. It makes utilizing crypto less complicated, quicker, and extra seamless for everybody.
➜ Third, we need to be sure Polygon stakers see actual worth. Proper now, POL is without doubt one of the solely tokens within the L2 panorama that has actual utility, and utility exterior a single ecosystem. It’s the token that powers each Polygon and Agglayer. And with the Agglayer Breakout Program, chains that participate and are related to the Agglayer ship airdrops again to stakers. So when you’re staking POL, this creates a direct hyperlink between the expansion of the ecosystem and the worth of staking.
Bitfinex: Thanks. Are you able to clarify what Polygon revealed in its latest gigagas roadmap replace and what the long run seems to be like for the community?
Sandeep Nailwal: The goal of the gigagas roadmap is to achieve 100k TPS, scaling throughput for a greater person expertise that may help the monetary world onchain. Meaning immediate transactions, demise to reorgs, and new ranges of velocity, all with Polygon’s battle-tested reliability. Polygon is aiming to develop into the premier funds and RWAs chain, and that is the milestone we have to attain web scale.
Bitfinex: Talking of roadmap, know-how and updates, what was the latest Heimdall improve, and why does it matter for Polygon?
Sandeep Nailwal: This was step one within the gigagas roadmap, and one of the complicated upgrades within the historical past of crypto. Polygon now helps 5-second quick finality, permitting stablecoins to maneuver on the tempo of on a regular basis life and tokenised property to settle like shares.
Bitfinex: As you mentioned, Sandeep Nailwal, increasing totally different options to totally different functions. Superb. Let’s get again to the improve. Why was MATIC upgraded to POL final yr, and what utility does POL provide to holders and stakers?
Sandeep Nailwal: Polygon has developed over the previous few years. The community wanted a token that will have the ability to help future upgrades and accrue worth to holders and stakers in a means that works throughout each Polygon and Agglayer. In contrast to different L2 tokens, POL has actual utility. It’s the native gasoline token of the Polygon community, allocates an annual emission of two% to ecosystem incentives, and permits customers to earn staking rewards. POL additionally consists of mechanisms for neighborhood airdrop eligibility through the Agglayer Breakout Programme.
Bitfinex: And after that, how can POL holders and stakers accrue worth from the Polygon Community?
Sandeep Nailwal: It’s essential to do not forget that whereas many tasks and tokens are speculative by nature, POL already has instant utility in a extensively used chain that offers elementary worth. POL is the gasoline and staking token of Polygon, so each transaction on the community is fuelled by POL. Staking POL earns rewards and makes stakers eligible for neighborhood airdrops.
As Polygon continues to guide in funds, the demand for POL and community safety will solely develop. POL is the important thing piece, in order that when stakers do the work, they see the rewards, serving to the token accrue worth, even because the groundwork is laid for POL to serve an essential position in Agglayer. For a straightforward demo on the way to stake POL, we created a video. Let me ship the hyperlink right here: https://x.com/0xPolygon/standing/1952742853890752571
Bitfinex: I feel your first assertion about Bitfinex was very enlightening, however we have now this query anyway. Bitfinex has been a long-term companion of Polygon. How has this relationship helped construct belief between the mission and the neighborhood of holders and merchants over time?
Sandeep Nailwal: I imply, see Bitfinex is the OG amongst the OGs. The group total has executed wonderful work, from offering the deepest BTC markets to the world to creating the pivotal stablecoin for the business, i.e., USDT.
I’ve the very best respect for Bitfinex and Tether management, particularly I’m a giant fan of Paolo and his distinctive means to foretell long-term traits and work in direction of them in a really calm and composed means.
Thoughts you, in crypto, three months is like one yr and Paolo thinks in five-year time frames. 😄 😄
That’s like considering in a 20-year timeframe, hahaha.
It’s very spectacular and we’re honoured to have an incredible relationship with Bitfinex.
With Tether, we have now cost options carried out in Lugano and lots of different cities. You may pay for all the things from meals, to groceries, to even wedding ceremony ceremonies in Lugano in USDT on Polygon.
Bitfinex: Thanks. You’re additionally main and collaborating within the Web3 enlargement. That’s one thing wonderful. Let’s get deeper into Agglayer. What’s Agglayer, and why is it essential for Polygon’s roadmap?
Sandeep Nailwal: Agglayer is the product to unify all of Web3 and create one single web for cash. It connects L1s, L2s, no matter (it doesn’t matter what layer or what stack), with out a chain having to sacrifice sovereignty or silo liquidity. With a particular security mechanism reside, Agglayer will have the ability to safely help any chain, no matter underlying safety mannequin. So earlier, once I was speaking about how fragmented and fractured crypto is? Properly, Agglayer fixes that.
And it’ll be run on POL.
Within the newest improve, Agglayer CDK started to help extra stacks than only one. It’s now doable for OP Stack-built chains to natively launch and connect with Agglayer. That’s the stack utilized by Base, Ink, and so on.
It’s extensively adopted know-how, however launching within the Superchain comes with a tax for interop that Agglayer simply doesn’t have. It already powers 15+ chains, with extra becoming a member of on a regular basis however on Agglayer it comes with zero tax to the chains connecting to it.
That is the way you scale crypto just like the web: customers don’t have to know what chain they’re on, and apps don’t have to bootstrap liquidity from scratch. Agglayer will allow sub-5 second cross-chain finality (coming quickly), native token fungibility (no wrappers), and safety you’ll be able to confirm onchain.
Bitfinex: How can POL holders and stakers accrue worth from Agglayer?
Sandeep Nailwal: I touched on this a bit of above, nevertheless it’s price spelling out. Agglayer will likely be powered by POL. That seamless UX expertise we predict is lacking in Web3 can solely actually be achieved by means of Agglayer, as a consequence of its underlying know-how. (Zero-knowledge proofs, for anybody who desires to deep dive!) POL staking is the electrical energy that offers Agglayer its internet-like aura: simple, protected transfers throughout totally different ecosystems and chains, in a means that’s quick and feels good. POL staking is on the centre right here. POL stakers additionally develop into eligible for airdrops (see hyperlink under) by means of the Agglayer Breakout Programme from tasks within the Polygon ecosystem.
https://polygon.know-how/weblog/pol-value-accrual-post-2-introducing-the-agglayer-breakout-program
The following introduced airdrop is from Katana, a purpose-built DeFi chain for increased yield and deep liquidity incubated by Polygon Labs and GSR.
Extremely advocate going by means of this picture, this can be a good description of POL utility:
Bitfinex: Thanks, actually fascinating and effectively defined. Good alternatives for communities to discover as effectively. And for on a regular basis customers and merchants who might not observe technical developments carefully, how will Polygon’s newest improvements enhance their expertise, and the way can this assist in the choice to hodl and commerce POL?
Sandeep Nailwal: Polygon’s delivery season has already introduced finality occasions below 5 seconds and TPS over 1000. This permits apps constructed on or built-in with Polygon to supply vastly improved UX to their customers, with quick, low-cost, dependable transactions globally. That is how Polygon is constructing the default chain for funds and RWA use instances, and persevering with to create an onchain economic system that brings the advantages of crypto to customers and accrues worth to the POL token.
Bitfinex: Thanks. To finalise this session, how can we discover extra details about Polygon’s newest developments?
Sandeep Nailwal: You may observe Polygon on X at x.com/0xPolygon, or go to the Polygon web site, https://polygon.know-how/.
Bitfinex: Sandeep, thanks for sharing your insights and giving us a more in-depth take a look at Polygon’s progress and imaginative and prescient for the long run. It has been a precious dialog that allowed us to grasp extra concerning the community’s technique, the position of POL, and upcoming improvements like Agglayer.
To our viewers, thanks for becoming a member of us on this AMA. As talked about, you’ll be able to observe Polygon’s newest updates by means of their official channels:
Web site: https://polygon.know-how/>
X (Twitter): https://x.com/0xPolygon>
Viewers Questions:
From LGabriel: Might you share what initially impressed you to create Polygon, and what have been a number of the greatest challenges you confronted through the early levels of constructing the mission, from idea to launch?
Sandeep Nailwal: Hey LGabriel, thanks for the query. As I discussed earlier than, I come from a humble background in India, the place I needed to begin supporting my family financially at a really younger age. I at all times felt that life didn’t provide equal alternatives to everybody. Only a few totally different circumstances, and I might’ve ended up working in a small cellular restore store in Delhi. The web, extra particularly crypto, gave me the prospect to be right here at present, talking to all of you and having my voice heard, no less than to some extent. So, Hold chasing your desires LGabriel.
From Emellic9: How are you working to show our desires into actuality?
Sandeep Nailwal: Hey Emellic9, thanks for the query. I feel you’ll be able to check with the query “What’s new in Polygon?”, as we have now three main objectives that can create extra alternatives for each Polygon builders and adopters
From Karthik: Hello Sandeep, Polygon hasn’t pumped the way in which many anticipated. Because you turned CEO, what do you assume the worth expectation for the Polygon coin is thru to December 2026?
Sandeep Nailwal: Hey Karthik, thanks for the query. I feel you’ll be able to check with the query “What’s new in Polygon?” the place I discussed Polygon’s third purpose.
Bitfinex: This concludes our session for at present! Thanks!
