13 Aug AMA with Polygon (Sandeep Naiwal) – Hosted by Bitfinex & BitfreedomGus
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Since its founding, Polygon has grown into one of the broadly 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, guaranteeing better utility for holders and stakers throughout its increasing ecosystem.
Now, with the launch of Agglayer, Polygon is making a extra strong and interconnected setting 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. Get pleasure from!
Bitfinex: Hiya everybody and welcome to a different unique Bitfinex AMA! I’m BitfreedomGus, and at this time 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 every little thing in crypto. As we method nearly one yr because the 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, akin 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 group.
Sandeep Nailwal: Hey BitFreedomGus, excited to be right here! Bitfinex was the second alternate I ever used after Poloniex. After I first signed up on Bitfinex, it was a large step up by way of 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 had been most enthusiastic about 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. Somewhat bit right here and there and I might’ve been working in an previous cellular restore store in Delhi, India. The Web offered me the chance to understand my potential and be right here in entrance of all of you and be a minimum of considerably heard.
I believe crypto has even larger potential on the subject of empowerment of each particular person human being. And that’s the principle mindset I’ve to be working in crypto. Polygon particularly…
I really feel that for Polygon, I believe the blockchain and crypto trade is rising and since day 0 our aim was to offer the huge scalability to crypto for it to go to billions of customers.
The aim 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 retaining the person expertise as seamless as attainable.
The customers ought to be capable of use their cash and do with it no matter they need, wherever they need, at any time when they need.
So Polygon is attempting to construct an Web of interconnected blockchains who host end-user apps on hundreds of blockchains however for finish customers, it appears like one single blockchain, identical to on the Web you as a person are linked 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 ought to be one single blockchain from the top person perspective.
Sorry for the lengthy reply however this matter is so near my coronary heart.
Bitfinex: Don’t fear, we respect this masterclass. What made you are 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 tough to maneuver rapidly and clarify choices. I stepped in as CEO of the Polygon Basis to convey sharper focus and assist us execute extra successfully throughout the board.
Marc Boiron, who I consider is likely one of the most succesful CEOs within the trade, had already spent the previous few years rebuilding the Polygon Labs group right into a high-performing organisation. Due to that basis, we had been ready to begin delivering nearly instantly.
In simply the previous few months, we’ve constructed a transparent roadmap for our key merchandise. Polygon PoS is likely one of the most generally used public blockchains and helps builders construct low-cost, quick functions which are simple to make use of. We have now a transparent roadmap to make it even sooner, with a purpose to assist international funds and RWAs, leaning into the areas the place it’s already glorious. 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 completely different chains right into a single, seamless community, with an emphasis on person expertise that may really feel just like the web everyone knows. Each are crucial to our long-term imaginative and prescient.
We’re now in full transport mode. We’re transferring quick on funds, together with main upgrades to the mainchain, and launching bold initiatives just like the Agglayer Breakout Programme and Katana with GSR.
Bitfinex: Thanks once more, Sandeep Nailwal. After years of improvement, how has the imaginative and prescient for Polygon advanced?
Sandeep Nailwal: So Polygon began as a single chain, Polygon PoS, which at this time is likely one of the largest chains by way of day by day energetic 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 may very well be constructed on one single knowledge server or one single knowledge centre.
It’s not true; enterprises wish to construct on completely different sorts of architectures. DeFi wants a unique form of structure, video games want a unique structure and so forth. It’s flawed to assume that any single blockchain will get all of the apps of Web3.
Therefore Polygon is at this time centered and architected as a multichain ecosystem. We have now one chain, Polygon PoS, which could be very common, however our key product is Agglayer, which is a trustless, chain sovereignty and independence-focused chain cluster.
So at this time, Polygon is Polygon PoS plus Agglayer, That already has some common chains like Wilder World, Katana, Lumia and lots of extra.
Bitfinex: Superb. And with that advanced imaginative and prescient, what’s the newest with Polygon?
Sandeep Nailwal: Proper now, we’re centered on three large objectives.
➜ First, we’re growing Polygon PoS into the quickest funds chain on the market. The gigagas roadmap we launched can convey speeds that rival and surpass techniques like Visa. We wish folks to have the ability to ship cash or make purchases immediately and at nearly no value.
To make that occur, we’re upgrading the expertise behind Polygon and dealing intently 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 dwell proper now, not all of the premium options can be found that may make customers’ lives simpler.
Agglayer is a big step ahead in crypto. In the present day, blockchains are disconnected, fully separate from each other. There’s no single place the place crypto occurs, however a patchwork of short-term fixes that bridge blockchains collectively.
The Agglayer is designed to attach all of them within the background, much like how the web connects folks around the globe. It makes utilizing crypto easier, sooner, and extra seamless for everybody.
➜ Third, we wish to be sure that Polygon stakers see actual worth. Proper now, POL is likely one of the solely tokens within the L2 panorama that has actual utility, and utility outdoors a single ecosystem. It’s the token that powers each Polygon and Agglayer. And with the Agglayer Breakout Program, chains that participate and are linked to the Agglayer ship airdrops again to stakers. So if you happen to’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 like for the community?
Sandeep Nailwal: The intention of the gigagas roadmap is to achieve 100k TPS, scaling throughput for a greater person expertise that may assist the monetary world onchain. Meaning prompt transactions, dying 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, expertise 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 stated, Sandeep Nailwal, increasing completely different options to completely 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 advanced over the previous few years. The community wanted a token that will be capable of assist 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 group 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 initiatives and tokens are speculative by nature, POL already has instant utility in a broadly used chain that provides 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 group airdrops.
As Polygon continues to steer 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 function in Agglayer. For a simple demo on how one can stake POL, we created a video. Let me ship the hyperlink right here:
Bitfinex: I believe your first assertion about Bitfinex was very enlightening, however now we have this query anyway. Bitfinex has been a long-term companion of Polygon. How has this relationship helped construct belief between the challenge and the group of holders and merchants over time?
Sandeep Nailwal: I imply, see Bitfinex is the OG amongst the OGs. The group total has completed wonderful work, from offering the deepest BTC markets to the world to creating the pivotal stablecoin for the trade, i.e., USDT.
I’ve the very best respect for Bitfinex and Tether management, particularly I’m an enormous fan of Paolo and his distinctive means to foretell long-term tendencies 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 pondering in a 20-year timeframe, hahaha.
It’s very spectacular and we’re honoured to have an amazing relationship with Bitfinex.
With Tether, now we have cost options carried out in Lugano and lots of different cities. You’ll be able to pay for every little thing from meals, to groceries, to even marriage ceremony ceremonies in Lugano in USDT on Polygon.
Bitfinex: Thanks. You’re additionally main and taking part within the Web3 growth. 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), and not using a chain having to sacrifice sovereignty or silo liquidity. With a particular security mechanism dwell, Agglayer will be capable of safely assist any chain, no matter underlying safety mannequin. So earlier, once I was speaking about how fragmented and fractured crypto is? Nicely, Agglayer fixes that.
And it’ll be run on POL.
Within the newest improve, Agglayer CDK started to assist extra stacks than only one. It’s now attainable for OP Stack-built chains to natively launch and hook up with Agglayer. That’s the stack utilized by Base, Ink, and so on.
It’s broadly adopted expertise, 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 must know what chain they’re on, and apps don’t must 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 just a little above, but it surely’s value spelling out. Agglayer might be powered by POL. That seamless UX expertise we predict is lacking in Web3 can solely actually be achieved via Agglayer, because of its underlying expertise. (Zero-knowledge proofs, for anybody who desires to deep dive!) POL staking is the electrical energy that provides Agglayer its internet-like aura: simple, protected transfers throughout completely 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 beneath) via the Agglayer Breakout Programme from initiatives within the Polygon ecosystem.
The following introduced airdrop is from Katana, a purpose-built DeFi chain for greater yield and deep liquidity incubated by Polygon Labs and GSR.
Extremely advocate going via this picture, this can be a good description of POL utility:
Bitfinex: Thanks, actually fascinating and properly defined. Good alternatives for communities to discover as properly. And for on a regular basis customers and merchants who might not observe technical developments intently, 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 transport season has already introduced finality instances beneath 5 seconds and TPS over 1000. This enables 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’ll be able to observe Polygon on X at x.com/0xPolygon, or go to the Polygon web site, https://polygon.expertise/.
Bitfinex: Sandeep, thanks for sharing your insights and giving us a better take a look at Polygon’s progress and imaginative and prescient for the long run. It has been a priceless dialog that allowed us to know extra in regards to the community’s technique, the function 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 via their official channels:
Web site: <https://polygon.expertise/>
X (Twitter): <https://x.com/0xPolygon>
Viewers Questions:
From LGabriel: Might you share what initially impressed you to create Polygon, and what had been a number of the greatest challenges you confronted through the early levels of constructing the challenge, 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 all the time felt that life didn’t provide equal alternatives to everybody. Just some completely 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 this time, chatting with all of you and having my voice heard, a minimum of to some extent. So, Preserve 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 believe you’ll be able to check with the query “What’s new in Polygon?”, as now we have three main objectives that may create extra alternatives for each Polygon builders and adopters
From Karthik: Hello Sandeep, Polygon hasn’t pumped the best way many anticipated. Because you turned CEO, what do you assume the value expectation for the Polygon coin is thru to December 2026?
Sandeep Nailwal: Hey Karthik, thanks for the query. I believe you’ll be able to check with the query “What’s new in Polygon?” the place I discussed Polygon’s third aim.
Bitfinex: This concludes our session for at this time! Thanks!