A Change in Leadership: Is Mihailo Bjelic Leaving Polygon

Mihailo Bjelic, a key co-founder of the Ethereum scaling solution, has announced his resignation from daily operations and his directorial role at the Polygon Foundation, effective May 2025. 

This move marks a notable shift in leadership dynamics for a project that has cemented its position as a go-to Layer 2 solution. 

The Genesis of Polygon: A Brief Recap

Before diving into the implications of Bjelic's departure, it’s worth remembering Polygon’s critical role. 

Born out of the need to scale Ethereum, Polygon emerged as a leading Layer 2 (L2) solution. Think of Ethereum as a super popular but often congested main highway; Polygon is like a dedicated express lane that helps handle a massive volume of traffic (transactions) quickly and affordably, before settling them back on the main highway. 

This has made Polygon indispensable for decentralized applications (dApps), DeFi protocols, and NFTs, struggling with Ethereum's high gas fees and slow transaction speeds.

Polygon's success was built on the vision of its four co-founders, including Mihailo Bjelic. These "OGs" are often the driving force behind a project's early growth, defining its core technology and strategic direction. 

Their collective expertise and leadership are vital for a project's trajectory.

A Shifting of the Guard: Bjelic's Exit and Nailwal's Enduring Role

Mihailo Bjelic’s resignation from daily operations and his directorial position is a significant development, especially as he is the third co-founder to step back from an active role since 2023. 

This leaves Sandeep Nailwal as the sole active co-founder deeply involved in Polygon's ongoing strategic development.

Bjelic himself cited "divergences in project vision" as a primary reason for his decision. In the fast-paced crypto landscape, it's not uncommon for founders' long-term visions to evolve, and sometimes, those visions diverge as a project matures and its scope expands. 

What might have been a shared path in the early days can branch off as new technologies emerge (like Zero-Knowledge technology, which we'll discuss) or as the project tackles different market needs. 

Also read: Polygon's New Adoption: Why This Stablecoin Move is Important

Mihailo Bjelic Statement

Bjelic has stated that he will continue to support the project from the sidelines, indicating a continued belief in Polygon's overall mission, even if his day-to-day involvement is changing.

Sandeep Nailwal's immediate reaction on social media platforms like X expressed gratitude and a sense of nostalgia for Bjelic's contributions, underscoring the deep personal and professional ties among the founders. 

Mihailo Bjelic | Source: CNBC Youtube 

His continued active involvement is a key factor for continuity during this leadership transition.

Also read: Inside Polygon’s 2025 Evolution: POL Token, AggLayer, and Ecosystem Growth

POL Market Pulse: Initial Reactions and Future Trajectory

Immediately following the news of Bjelic's departure, the crypto market's reaction to Polygon's native token, POL, was observed. Recent trading data from CoinMarketCap showed a notable 144.94% surge in 24-hour trading volume and a modest 2.78% price increase over a single day.
 

• 24-hour trading volume: This metric indicates the total amount of POL tokens traded within a 24-hour period. A significant surge often suggests increased market activity and attention around the asset, whether from buyers or sellers reacting to news.
   

• Fully diluted market cap: CoinMarketCap reported Polygon (POL)'s fully diluted market cap at $2.18 billion. This figure represents the theoretical market capitalization if all future tokens that will ever be minted were in circulation today, which is different from the regular market cap that only counts currently circulating tokens. It gives a glimpse into the long-term supply potential of the token.

However, it's important to put these short-term movements in context. Polygon (POL) has experienced declines over the past 30, 60, and 90 days, indicating that while the immediate news might have sparked trading activity, the broader market trend for POL has been influenced by various other factors.

For the average crypto bro, the key takeaway from leadership changes is the potential influence on investor sentiment and Polygon's strategic direction. 

Major departures can sometimes signal internal shifts or raise questions about a project's stability. 

Conversely, if handled well, they can also signal a project's maturity and its ability to adapt and evolve beyond its founding team's initial daily involvement.

Also read: Polygon (POL) Festival Bitrue | Join and Claim 100 POL for Free

Polygon's Future: Doubling Down on Zero-Knowledge Technology

Experts in the crypto space are emphasizing that this leadership change could significantly influence Polygon's ongoing innovations, particularly in Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technology. 

ZK tech is a groundbreaking area within blockchain that allows one party to prove to another that a statement is true, without revealing any information beyond the validity of the statement itself.

For Polygon, ZK technology is crucial for its next generation of scaling solutions, such as ZK-rollups. These advanced L2 solutions offer even greater scalability, security, and efficiency compared to earlier L2 models. 

Read Also: Polygon (POL) Festival – Stake, Deposit & Earn

Polygon has heavily invested in ZK research and development, acquiring ZK-focused startups and developing its own suite of ZK tools.

Mihailo Bjelic's departure might mean that the focus on ZK technology, which has been a major strategic pivot for Polygon, will now primarily fall to the remaining leadership, including Sandeep Nailwal, and the dedicated ZK teams within Polygon Labs. 

Analysts suggest that the market will closely monitor Polygon's continued progress in this vital area to evaluate its long-term trajectory and competitive edge against other L2s.

Also read: Polygon and Dune Partnership: Why This Is Important For Devs

Leadership Evolution in the Crypto Sphere

The departure of a co-founder like Mihailo Bjelic is not an isolated incident in the crypto industry. As projects mature from nascent startups into large-scale ecosystems, their organizational structures often evolve. 

Founding teams may shift roles, transition to advisory positions, or step back to pursue new ventures. This can be seen as a natural progression in the life cycle of a successful crypto project, indicating:

• Maturity: The project has developed a strong enough team and a clear enough path to continue thriving without the daily oversight of all original founders.
   
• Decentralization of Power: A move away from founder-centric leadership towards a more distributed decision-making process.
   
• New Blood, New Ideas: Opportunities for fresh perspectives and leadership to drive the project forward.
   

However, it also underscores the importance of strong remaining leadership and a clear strategic vision to ensure continuity and prevent significant disruptions. Sandeep Nailwal's ongoing commitment provides a crucial anchor during this period.

Read Also: How to Buy Polygon (POL)

Conclusion: Polygon Navigates a New Chapter

Mihailo Bjelic's departure from daily operations marks a notable inflection point for Polygon. While shifts in leadership always bring questions, they also present opportunities for renewed focus and strategic evolution. 

With Sandeep Nailwal holding the fort and Polygon's strong commitment to cutting-edge technologies like ZK, the project is poised to navigate this new chapter. 

For crypto bros, the key will be to watch how Polygon continues to deliver on its promise of scalable, efficient, and secure blockchain infrastructure, especially as the race for the next generation of L2 solutions heats up. 

The trajectory of POL, and Polygon's place in the wider crypto landscape, will ultimately be shaped by its ability to execute on its evolving vision.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is a "Layer 2" (L2) blockchain? 

A: A Layer 2 (L2) blockchain is a separate network built on top of a main blockchain (like Ethereum, which is Layer 1). L2s are designed to help the main chain handle more transactions faster and cheaper, then settle those transactions back on the Layer 1 for security.

Q: What is "fully diluted market cap"? 

A: The "fully diluted market cap" is a theoretical calculation of a cryptocurrency's market capitalization if all its tokens that will ever exist (including those not yet in circulation) were in circulation at the current price. It gives an idea of the project's maximum potential valuation if all tokens are released.

Q: What is Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technology? 

A: Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technology in crypto allows one person to prove they know a piece of information (like a secret) to another person, without actually revealing the secret itself. In blockchain, ZK proofs are used to verify transactions or computations off-chain and then submit a tiny, verifiable proof to the main chain, significantly boosting speed and privacy.

Q: How does a co-founder leaving affect a crypto project? 

A: A co-founder leaving can impact a crypto project in several ways: it might signal a change in strategic direction, affect investor sentiment (positively or negatively), or lead to new leadership taking the helm. Often, it's a natural part of a project's maturation process, indicating the team is growing beyond its initial core.