Polygon Ethereum Tension Rises After Nailwal Questions Loyalty

Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal has surprised the crypto community by saying he is “questioning his loyalty” to Ethereum, reports Coin Bureau. Nailwal said he feels the Ethereum community has not given enough credit to Polygon’s work, even though the project has helped scale Ethereum for years. His words quickly spread online, getting a calm but direct response from Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin.

⚡️POLYGON FOUNDER QUESTIONS ETHEREUM LOYALTY

Sandeep Nailwal says he’s been “questioning his loyalty” to #Ethereum, accusing the community of underappreciating #Polygon’s role — drawing a direct response from Vitalik Buterin. pic.twitter.com/HZtN9nL02Q

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) October 21, 2025

Polygon Founder Says Loyalty Cost Billions

Nailwal said his doubts come from how Polygon’s role is often overlooked. He explained that Polygon has supported Ethereum since the beginning instead of competing against it. But he believes that this loyalty has cost Polygon billions in potential value. “I have always felt moral loyalty toward Ethereum even if it costs me billions of dollars in Polygon’s valuation,” Nailwal wrote.

He also said that if Polygon had branded itself as a fully independent Layer 1 blockchain, its value could have been two to five times more. Despite that, he stayed loyal to Ethereum because he believed in its vision and community. Now, he feels that the community does not appreciate that sacrifice, thus escalating the Polygon Ethereum tension.

Tension Between Builders

Nailwal’s frustration seems to go beyond just money. He said the Ethereum community has become difficult to work with and closed off to outside builders. His post described the space as “a mess” where new ideas struggle to be heard.

He also noted that Polygon has built tools and solutions that make Ethereum faster and cheaper. These include the Polygon zkEVM and many zero-knowledge projects. Even with those efforts, he said Polygon rarely receives public support or acknowledgment from the Ethereum Foundation.

Vitalik Buterin Responds

Vitalik Buterin replied soon after Nailwal’s post gained attention. He praised Polygon for its technical progress and its role in scaling Ethereum. He also mentioned Nailwal’s charitable work through CryptoRelief, a fund that helped India during the COVID-19 crisis.

Buterin, however, made one important point. He said Polygon is not yet a complete Ethereum Layer 2 because it still lacks a full “proof system.” This proof system makes sure that every transaction on Polygon can be verified by Ethereum’s main chain. He suggested that Polygon could use newer, low-cost zero-knowledge proof technology to reach that level.

His tone was respectful but firm. He made it clear that while he values Polygon’s work, he believes true Layer 2s must meet strict safety and design standards.

Ethereum Faces Questions About Unity

This exchange shows deeper issues within the Ethereum ecosystem. Some developers feel that while Ethereum talks about supporting innovation, it sometimes overlooks the people who actually build it. Nailwal’s comments highlight this tension.

There is also the question of identity. Should Polygon continue calling itself part of Ethereum, or should it grow into a stand-alone network? That decision could affect how investors and developers see it in the future.

All Eyes on Polygon’s Next Move

So far, Nailwal has not said whether Polygon will change direction. But his comments have started a wider discussion about loyalty, recognition and the future of Layer 2 projects.

Whether this Polygon Ethereum tension leads to change or distance between the two is yet to be seen. For now, the crypto world is watching both the founders closely. As their next moves could reshape how the Ethereum ecosystem treats its biggest contributors.