What is Polygon? An introduction to MATIC
We explain how Polygon's scaling solution has ambitions to be the “internet of blockchains,” and why it’s become popular among developers.
Polygon (previously Matic Network) is a Layer-2 scaling solution for the Ethereum network. It was created to address Ethereum scaling challenges, while providing faster transactions and lower transaction fees. Polygon aims to make the underlying Ethereum blockchain more user-friendly and accessible to everyone by offering various scaling solutions.
The founding idea behind Polygon is to enable developers to create highly customizable scaling solutions that suit their specific needs. It supports both standalone chains and secured chains.
Standalone chains are fully sovereign and independent, while secured chains utilize a security-as-a-service model and can share validators with other projects. This flexibility allows developers to optimize for factors like security, transaction speed, transaction cost, or sovereignty based on their project requirements.
The Polygon (MATIC) network utilizes a variety of consensus mechanisms to ensure the security and efficiency of its operations. One of the consensus mechanisms employed by Polygon is the Proof of Stake (PoS) model, which is used in its main chain.
The Polygon Proof of Stake chain relies on a set of validators to validate transactions and produce new blocks. Validators are chosen based on the amount of MATIC tokens they hold and stake in the network. By staking tokens, validators contribute to the security and stability of the network and are rewarded with transaction fees and block rewards.
Other solutions include the MATIC plasma chain, which is an Ethereum Layer-2 predicate-based plasma implementation. The MATIC plasma chain allows for offloading transactions from the main Ethereum blockchain to sidechains, enabling faster and more cost-effective transactions.
MATIC is the native cryptocurrency of Polygon. It is used for various purposes within the network, including paying fees, staking, and governance. Users can stake MATIC tokens and participate in securing the network, while earning rewards in return. Transaction fees on the Polygon network are significantly lower compared to Ethereum, making it more affordable for users to interact with decentralized applications (dApps).