Sandeep Nailwal Becomes Polygon CEO, Deprecates zkEVM, Refocuses Roadmap on AggLayer, PoS Chain, and 100K TPS Goal

On June 11, Sandeep Nailwal, the largest holder of POL and co-founder of Polygon, took on the role of CEO. Following Mihailo Bjelic’s exit in May, Nailwal declared full control over the Polygon Foundation. In a detailed statement, Nailwal laid out a bold plan to reset Polygon’s strategic direction, stating, “Polygon needs clear direction and focused execution.” The shift comes amid Polygon’s strong treasury, with several hundred million dollars in reserves and regulatory relief. This happened after the SEC dropped its investigation into MATIC. Upcoming rollouts include AggLayer v0.3, major upgrades to Polygon PoS, and a rebranding push aligning the entire ecosystem under the Polygon identity.

Polygon CEO Sandeep Nailwal Sets New Direction After Leadership Transition

Polygon Foundation, previously run by a consensus-based structure, will now operate under direct founder control. With co-founder Mihailo Bjelic stepping down in May, Sandeep Nailwal assumed full charge as the sole remaining active founder and Polygon CEO. The CEO emphasized, “At our beginnings, Polygon was all about bold execution and big goals… Now, it is time to again move fast.” The decision signals a shift away from institutional board structures and towards decisive leadership.

Nailwal explained the need to adapt to an evolving crypto landscape. He said, “Crypto has changed from being research-centric to user-centric. Polygon must evolve too.” Polygon Labs will continue operations under Marc Boiron, whom Nailwal called “the best executive in the crypto industry.” Mudit Gupta and Ryan will continue as CTO and COO, respectively, leading engineering and operations.

Polygon CEO Eyes AggLayer and PoS

Polygon will sunset its zkEVM mainnet beta by 2026, with the focus moving sharply to Polygon PoS and AggLayer. Nailwal described AggLayer as “the trustless internet of blockchains.” The AggLayer v0.3 rollout will happen in the week of June 30. The AggLayer Breakout Program will expand, spinning off ZK research initiatives like Polygon ZisK. Jordi Baylina will lead ZisK. These efforts aim to create stronger value for POL token stakers through targeted airdrops and focused product execution.

Polygon PoS enters its “Gigagas” roadmap phase. The testnet now supports over 1,000 transactions per second (TPS), with a devnet already reaching over 5,000 TPS. The roadmap targets 100,000 TPS in the coming years. A mainnet upgrade with under one-second finality and zero reorgs is expected by September. Polygon CEO noted that, “These upgrades massively increase the economic viability of the Polygon protocol.” The strategic realignment will ensure efficient scaling, improved performance, and sustainable long-term value creation.

Liquidity Gains as Market Makers Return After SEC Clears MATIC

The SEC recently dropped its investigations into MATIC’s security status. Polygon CEO Nailwal commented, “This should have never existed given the nature of MATIC, and now POL.” The regulatory clearance has brought back several top-tier market makers, boosting POL’s exchange liquidity. To assist token holders, the Foundation will begin educational campaigns to support the MATIC-to-POL transition. These campaigns aim to inform stakeholders, users, and developers of the ongoing token migration. Increased liquidity across decentralized and centralized exchanges forms a crucial part of the Foundation’s strategy under Nailwal’s leadership. The CEO’s goal includes strengthening POL’s utility and ensuring vibrant market participation.

Polygon Identity Strengthened Through AggLayer Rebranding

The previously neutral AggLayer brand will now carry the Polygon name. According to Nailwal, the change aligns the ecosystem more clearly. He said, “It’s time to align the ecosystem under the Polygon identity.” This rebranding supports the Foundation’s new product-first strategy, with Polygon PoS and AggLayer as central pillars. All future announcements will be made through the personal account of Polygon CEO Sandeep Nailwal, who encouraged the community to follow updates directly.

Nailwal noted the change in startup stage as well, stating, “Polygon is now back as a zero to one startup setup.” The team aims to rebuild aggressively with support from leadership at Polygon Labs. Sandeep Nailwal’s goals include defining the long-term Foundation strategy, overseeing core initiatives, and enhancing value for users and POL token stakers. Under his leadership, Polygon is expected to enter a phase of rapid innovation, execution, and focused market alignment.

Polygon Gears Up for Aggressive Growth Under New Leadership

Polygon Foundation enters a transformative era under the leadership of Polygon CEO Sandeep Nailwal. The crypto industry’s changing dynamics pushed the project to reset priorities. The move from consensus governance to founder-led direction marks a new chapter. Strong leadership, deep liquidity, and a bold technical roadmap define the current trajectory. With the Gigagas upgrade, AggLayer v0.3 launch, zkEVM sunset, and market maker return, the Foundation appears poised for aggressive scaling. Nailwal concluded with, “Focused leadership and fast execution will bring the next chapter of Polygon.” The industry now watches how this strategic pivot reshapes Polygon’s place in the blockchain landscape.