MATIC to POL explained

In September 2024, Polygon began replacing its original token, MATIC, with a new token called POL. The swap is 1:1: one MATIC becomes one POL. Since then, POL has been the gas and staking token of the Polygon PoS network, and most exchanges have converted their customers' balances automatically.

Why Polygon introduced POL

MATIC was designed for a single network, Polygon PoS. Polygon's roadmap moved towards an ecosystem of many connected chains, and POL was designed for that: it can be staked to help secure multiple Polygon chains rather than just one. The upgrade also changed the token's economics, with a set yearly emission split between validator rewards and a community treasury, as described in Polygon's public governance proposals.

What it means for you

• Tokens on an exchange: most large exchanges handled the conversion automatically. Your balance shows as POL.
• MATIC on Polygon PoS: the network's native gas token became POL. Balances on Polygon PoS were updated as part of the upgrade.
• MATIC on Ethereum (ERC20): this does not convert by itself. Polygon provides an official migration contract and portal to swap it 1:1 for POL on Ethereum.

Always use Polygon's official website and documentation for the migration. Scammers set up fake "migration" pages that ask you to approve tokens or enter your seed phrase. No legitimate migration ever needs your seed phrase.

POL as gas on Polygon PoS

Every transaction on Polygon PoS — sending USDT, USDC or any token — is paid in POL. Fees are typically very low, but you still need a small POL balance to move anything. Polygon PoS uses chain ID 137, the same 0x… address format as Ethereum, and the PolygonScan explorer.

Stablecoins on Polygon

USDC is issued natively on Polygon PoS by Circle. An older bridged version, often shown as USDC.e, also exists; they are different tokens with different contracts. USDT is also available on Polygon. As always, confirm which token and network the receiver accepts.

Is there anything you must do now?

1. If you hold MATIC on an exchange, check that it shows as POL. If it does, nothing else is needed.
2. If you hold MATIC as an ERC20 token on Ethereum in your own wallet, consider migrating it through Polygon's official portal, or swapping it.
3. If you use Polygon PoS, make sure your wallet displays POL as the native currency and keep a little for fees.

Swapping POL

To convert POL into a stablecoin or another coin, use the form at the top of this page, which is preset to POL → USDT. You can also convert stablecoins between Polygon and other networks, for example from USDT on Solana or BEP20 and ERC20.

How to check what you hold

Open your wallet and look at the token list on each network separately. On Polygon PoS, the native balance should be labelled POL. On Ethereum, look for a token named MATIC or POL; if you still see MATIC there, it has not been migrated. You can confirm any token by its contract on PolygonScan or Etherscan, linked from Polygon's official documentation.

Staking after the upgrade

Staking on Polygon PoS moved to POL as part of the upgrade. If you delegated MATIC to a validator, check Polygon's official staking dashboard to see your position and rewards. As with the migration itself, only use the official site and verify the address in your browser before connecting your wallet or approving anything.

Why price sites show both names

Some price trackers, tax tools and older apps still refer to the token as MATIC or show both tickers side by side. This is a naming lag, not a different asset: after the 1:1 migration, the market price follows POL. When you swap, choose POL — it is the same value your MATIC was converted into.

Frequently asked questions