What is POL (ex-MATIC)? A Clear Explanation for Beginners (2026)
When I began building RizeCoin on Polygon, the network’s native token was already called POL. But MATIC was still showing up everywhere — in old documentation, on some exchanges, in certain wallet displays. Polygon itself seemed to use both names depending on where you looked.
It was confusing. I didn’t know which name was current, whether they were the same thing, or whether something had changed that I was missing. Now I know: POL is the correct current name. MATIC is the old name. Unless there’s a specific reason to use MATIC, I don’t — and you probably don’t need to either.
What Happened — MATIC Became POL
Polygon’s native token was originally called MATIC when the network launched. In 2024, Polygon upgraded the token as part of a significant change to the ecosystem’s architecture. The new token is called POL.
This wasn’t just a rename. The transition involved a technical upgrade that gave POL a broader role in the Polygon ecosystem — not just as a gas token for one network, but as the foundation for a connected system of chains through AggLayer.
If you held MATIC before the transition, it was converted to POL. The two tokens are not the same contract, but they represent continuity — MATIC holders became POL holders through the migration process.
The transition happened, but not everything updated at the same time. Some exchanges still list “MATIC” as the trading symbol. Some older guides and articles still use MATIC. Some wallet interfaces show one or the other depending on when they last updated their token lists.
When I started on Polygon, I had to figure out that POL and MATIC were the same underlying asset at different points in time — and that the current correct name is POL. I now display POL and don’t have a reason to show MATIC unless something specific requires it.
What POL Does
POL is Polygon PoS‘s gas token. Every transaction on Polygon — sending tokens, swapping on a DEX, adding liquidity, deploying a contract — requires a small amount of POL to pay the gas fee. Without POL in your wallet, nothing moves.
POL also has two other functions. It can be staked to help secure the network and earn rewards. And it’s used for governance — POL holders can participate in decisions about how the network evolves.
Gas fees on Polygon are small — usually under $0.01 per transaction. But you need POL before you can do anything. If you’re starting on Polygon, the first step is always getting some POL into your wallet. Even $2–$5 worth covers many transactions.
How to get POL: buy it on MEXC and send it to MetaMask.
The Burn Mechanism
A portion of the POL used in each transaction is permanently destroyed — burned. This reduces the total supply of POL over time. In early 2026, roughly 1 million POL are being burned each day.
The burn mechanism exists to counteract inflation. As new POL is issued to reward validators, burning removes some from circulation to maintain balance. For token holders, a deflationary pressure on the supply is generally considered a positive economic design.
POL vs MATIC — The Practical Answer
Use POL. That’s the current name. When you buy on an exchange, look for POL. When you check your MetaMask balance, it shows POL. When you pay gas, you’re using POL.
If you see MATIC on an exchange or in an old guide, it’s referring to the same asset under its previous name. The network uses POL now.
Honest Limitations
POL’s value fluctuates with the broader crypto market. If POL drops significantly in price, the dollar cost of gas fees decreases — but so does the value of staking rewards and any POL holdings. For small projects like RizeCoin, POL volatility affects liquidity indirectly through market sentiment.
The transition from MATIC to POL also created a period of documentation inconsistency that still lingers. If you’re following an older guide that says MATIC where you expect to see POL, that’s why — not an error on your part.
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