Sandeep Nailwal’s Bold Vision: Steering Polygon into a New Era as CEO

Introduction

On June 11, 2025, Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal announced a seismic shift in the Ethereum Layer-2 project’s leadership, assuming the role of CEO of the Polygon Foundation and dissolving its board-led governance. This move, aimed at addressing inefficiencies and intensifying competition, signals a return to Polygon’s bold, founder-driven roots. In an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph, Nailwal detailed the motivations behind his decision, the strategic pivot away from zkEVM, and his ambitious roadmap for Polygon’s future. This article explores Nailwal’s leadership overhaul and its implications for Polygon’s place in the blockchain ecosystem.

From Board to Singular Leadership

Nailwal’s decision to take full control as CEO marks a departure from Polygon’s previous institutional governance model, which relied on a board of directors. He cited prolonged decision-making processes—sometimes stretching from weeks to months—as a key bottleneck stifling innovation. “Decisions that should’ve been made in two weeks were sometimes taking two months,” Nailwal told Cointelegraph, echoing sentiments shared with Bloomberg. This shift, announced on X, reflects a “zero-to-one” mentality, aiming to restore Polygon’s agility in a fiercely competitive Layer-2 landscape. The dissolution of the board, coupled with Nailwal’s role as the largest POL holder, positions him to steer the project with unprecedented authority.

Strategic Pivot: Sunsetting zkEVM and Doubling Down on PoS

A cornerstone of Nailwal’s strategy is the planned sunset of Polygon’s zkEVM network by 2026, a $250 million acquisition from 2021 that aimed to mirror Ethereum’s functionality but faced low adoption and technical limitations. Instead, Polygon will focus resources on its Proof-of-Stake (PoS) chain and the AggLayer, a cross-chain aggregator designed to enhance interoperability. The first milestone of the PoS GigaGAS roadmap, already live on the Amoy testnet, targets over 1,000 transactions per second (TPS) by July 2025, with ambitions to reach 100,000 TPS long-term. Co-founder Jordi Baylina’s departure to launch ZisK, a new zero-knowledge project, aligns with this shift, freeing Polygon to prioritize scalable solutions.

Navigating Competition and Market Dynamics

Polygon faces intense pressure from Layer-2 rivals like Optimism, Arbitrum, and zkSync, necessitating rapid adaptation. Nailwal’s leadership overhaul responds to Ethereum’s “existential crisis,” which he believes has forced Polygon back to a foundational growth phase. The SEC’s decision to drop its investigation into MATIC as a security has bolstered market confidence, with Nailwal noting on X that major market makers are returning, enhancing POL liquidity. The POL token surged 6% to $0.24 following the announcement, reflecting investor optimism. However, community reactions are mixed, with some praising the streamlined decision-making and others criticizing the zkEVM shutdown as overdue or poorly managed.

A Servant Leader with a Global Vision

Despite consolidating power, Nailwal emphasizes a “servitude mentality” rooted in his upbringing, aiming to balance decisive leadership with empathy for stakeholders. He draws parallels to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin’s sole authority over the Ethereum Foundation, asserting that singular leadership is critical for Polygon’s survival in a fast-evolving industry. Financially, the Polygon Foundation remains robust, holding several hundred million dollars in cash, enabling long-term development without immediate funding needs. Nailwal’s vision extends beyond DeFi, targeting gaming, NFTs, and real-world asset tokenization via AggLayer, positioning Polygon as a versatile Ethereum scaling solution.

Challenges and Risks Ahead

The shift to centralized leadership carries risks, including potential community backlash and concerns about reduced decentralization. Critics argue that dissolving the board concentrates too much power, potentially alienating stakeholders who valued Polygon’s collaborative governance. The zkEVM sunset has sparked debate, with some viewing it as a pragmatic move and others as a costly misstep. Additionally, Polygon must navigate a crowded Layer-2 market, where competitors’ AI-powered DeFi services and faster scaling solutions pose ongoing threats. Nailwal’s ability to execute swiftly while maintaining community trust will be critical to Polygon’s success.

Conclusion

Sandeep Nailwal’s ascent to CEO of the Polygon Foundation heralds a new chapter for the Ethereum Layer-2 giant, driven by a need for speed, clarity, and bold execution. By sunsetting zkEVM, focusing on PoS and AggLayer, and leveraging Polygon’s financial strength, Nailwal aims to reclaim the project’s competitive edge. While his centralized leadership model has sparked both optimism and skepticism, the POL price surge and returning market makers signal market confidence. As Polygon navigates a pivotal moment, Nailwal’s “go all in” approach could either solidify its position as a blockchain leader or test the limits of centralized control in a decentralized ecosystem.