Polygon Amoy & Cardona: Guide to Testnet MATIC & LINK Tokens

Polygon, a leading Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution, has introduced two new Sepolia-anchored testnets: Amoy for Polygon PoS and Cardona for Polygon zkEVM. These testnets replace the deprecated Goerli-based Mumbai and Goerli testnets, aligning with the Ethereum Foundation’s decision to phase out Goerli support after the Dencun upgrade. 

Amoy and Cardona provide developers with stable, low-stakes environments to test decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts using free testnet MATIC and LINK tokens. This guide explains the role of these testnets, how to get testnet tokens, and how to set up your wallet for testing.

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Why Polygon Testnets Matter

Testnets like Amoy and Cardona are crucial for developers building on Polygon protocols. They allow risk-free testing of dApps and smart contracts, ensuring functionality before mainnet deployment. 

With Polygon’s Proof-of-Stake (PoS) and zero-knowledge (zkEVM) chains, developers can leverage Ethereum-compatible environments with faster transactions and lower costs. The shift to Sepolia-anchored testnets ensures long-term stability as Goerli is phased out.

Polygon PoS: Amoy Testnet

Amoy is the new testnet for Polygon PoS, a sidechain offering Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility. It enables developers to deploy and test smart contracts using testnet MATIC, which powers transactions without real-world costs. Amoy’s integration with Ethereum’s Sepolia testnet ensures reliable block production and access to essential tools like validators, faucets, and block explorers.

Polygon zkEVM: Cardona Testnet

Cardona is the testnet for Polygon zkEVM, a zero-knowledge rollup designed for EVM equivalence. It allows developers to deploy Ethereum smart contracts without modification, benefiting from faster transactions and lower fees while inheriting Ethereum’s security. Cardona uses testnet ETH and supports Chainlink services via testnet LINK tokens.

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

Setting Up Your Wallet for Amoy and Cardona

To interact with Polygon’s testnets, you’ll need a crypto wallet like MetaMask configured for Amoy or Cardona. Here’s how to add them:

• Adding Amoy Testnet to MetaMask

• Open MetaMask and click the network dropdown.

• Select “Add Network” and choose “Add a network manually.”

Enter the following details for Amoy:

• Network Name: Polygon Amoy Testnet

• RPC URL: https://rpc-amoy.polygon.technology/

• Chain ID: 80002

• Currency Symbol: MATIC

• Block Explorer URL: https://amoy.polygonscan.com/

• Save and switch to the Amoy network.

Adding Cardona Testnet to MetaMask

Follow the same steps in MetaMask to add a new network.

Input Cardona’s details:

• Network Name: Polygon zkEVM Cardona Testnet

• RPC URL: https://rpc.cardona.zkevm-rpc.com

• Chain ID: 2442

• Currency Symbol: ETH

• Block Explorer URL: https://cardona-zkevm.polygonscan.com/

Save and switch to Cardona.

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

How to Get Testnet MATIC and LINK Tokens

Testnet tokens like MATIC and LINK have no real-world value but are essential for testing on Amoy and Cardona. Here’s how to get them:

Getting Amoy Testnet MATIC

• Visit a reliable faucet like the Polygon Amoy Faucet or GetBlock Faucet.

• Connect your MetaMask wallet and ensure it’s set to the Amoy network.

• Enter your wallet address and complete any verification (e.g., captcha or social media tasks).

• Request tokens; you’ll typically receive 0.2–0.5 MATIC daily, depending on the faucet. Check the transaction on Polygonscan.

Getting Amoy Testnet LINK

• Head to the Chainlink Amoy Faucet.

• Select the Polygon Amoy testnet and connect your wallet.

• Request LINK tokens, verifying via GitHub to prevent spam.

Confirm the transfer in your wallet and on Polygonscan. LINK tokens enable testing of Chainlink’s oracle services, like data feeds and cross-chain applications.

Getting Cardona Testnet ETH

• Use faucets like Alchemy or Coinbase Faucet for Cardona testnet ETH.

• Input your wallet address, complete verification, and request tokens.

• Tokens will appear in your wallet after a short processing time.

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

Benefits of Testing on Amoy and Cardona

Testing on Amoy and Cardona offers developers a cost-free way to experiment with Polygon protocols, as transactions use free testnet MATIC, ETH, and LINK tokens, eliminating financial risk. Both testnets are fully compatible with Ethereum tools, allowing seamless deployment of existing smart contracts without needing major tweaks. 

Developers can also test advanced features like Chainlink’s CCIP for cross-chain applications on Amoy, ensuring robust functionality. With Sepolia’s reliable infrastructure, these testnets provide a stable environment for consistent testing, especially as Goerli support winds down. This setup helps developers perfect their dApps in a secure, low-stakes space before mainnet deployment.

Best Practices for Developers

When using Amoy and Cardona, always stick to trusted faucets like Polygon, Chainlink, or GetBlock to avoid scams, and never share your seed phrase or private keys. Thorough testing is key to catching bugs and optimizing dApps before they go live on the mainnet, ensuring a smooth user experience. 

Staying updated is also important, so regularly check Polygon’s blog and social channels for the latest on testnet changes and governance discussions to stay in the loop and contribute to the ecosystem.

Exploring Polygon’s Ecosystem

Polygon’s ecosystem is one of the largest Ethereum Layer 2 platforms, with over $1 billion in Total Value Locked (TVL). Developers can explore thousands of dApps via Polygon’s ecosystem explorer and leverage tools like the Agglayer CDK for building scalable blockchains. Amoy and Cardona are key to fostering innovation in this vibrant ecosystem.

Conclusion

Polygon’s Amoy and Cardona testnets offer free testnet MATIC, ETH, and LINK, making dApp testing on Polygon PoS and zkEVM easy and cost-free. EVM compatibility ensures smooth integration, while faucets simplify setup. These Sepolia-based testnets help devs build and scale with confidence.

FAQ

How do I get testnet MATIC for the Amoy network?

Use the Polygon Amoy Faucet, connect your MetaMask (Amoy selected), verify, and claim 0.2–0.5 MATIC daily.

What's the RPC and Chain ID for adding Amoy to MetaMask?

RPC URL: https://rpc-amoy.polygon.technology/ Chain ID: 80002 Symbol: MATIC

Can I use Chainlink oracles on Amoy?

Yes! Grab LINK from the Chainlink Faucet, select Amoy, verify with GitHub, and test oracles like CCIP and price feeds.

How do I test on Polygon zkEVM with Cardona?

Add Cardona to MetaMask using RPC: https://rpc.cardona.zkevm-rpc.com, Chain ID: 2442, and get ETH from Coinbase or Alchemy faucets.

Is Amoy replacing Mumbai testnet?

Yes. Amoy (for PoS) and Cardona (for zkEVM) replace the old Goerli-based testnets after the Dencun upgrade. They're now anchored to Sepolia.

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