Because the ICO hype of 2017-2018 was fading, a $3 million supply might need modified the Polygon (POL) technique for good. Here is why co-founder Sandeep Nailwal has no regrets concerning the supply he and his crew determined to skip seven years in the past.
“Test was prepared”: Sandeep Nailwal refused to promote Polygon for $3 million in 2018
Sandeep Nailwal, the founding father of the Polygon (POL) blockchain and the CEO of Polygon Basis, was supplied $3 million for his enterprise again in 2018. The choice to reject this supply was a kind of that “really feel improper for years, however repay in the long term,” he shared along with his 342,000 X followers in a touching story.
Generally the precise selection feels improper for years, however pays off in the long term.
In 2018, everybody was elevating $15-20 million within the ICO growth. We even had a $3 million supply after successful a contest. The influencers actually stated “the examine is prepared” let’s simply shake palms.…
— Sandeep | CEO, Polygon Basis (※,※) (@sandeepnailwal) August 8, 2025
As per Nailwal’s submit, when the ICO raises dropped to $15-20 million — because the fundraising growth was shedding its steam — he acquired a $3 million supply for Polygon, known as Matic Community again then. Some influencers even informed him that the “examine was prepared” and he was solely required to seal the deal.
Regardless of the tiny funding — the co-founders acquired zero compensation for months — the crew declined the supply as “simple cash” all the time got here with invisible chains. Proper after the choice, issues bought even worse — Polygon was ghosted by VCs, Nailwal admits:
It bought to a degree the place VCs would not even take our calls. I bear in mind one assembly in Singapore the place the VC actually stated “I’ve to catch an Uber” whereas I used to be making an attempt to stroll him via whereas pitching additionally. I caught a glimpse on his telephone that the automotive was 8 minutes out
The 2018 Crypto Winter decimated the dApps panorama that had been fueled by the ICO mania. To offer context, Ethereum (ETH), the largest altcoin and the financial spine of ICOs, misplaced 94% in comparison with its January 2018 peak.
As Agglayer takes form, many Polygon (POL) metrics rocket
In 2020, Matic Community was rebranded to Polygon, morphing from Ethereum’s L2 into a world DeFi Hub. The crew secured a whopping $500 million in funding, staying true to its preliminary values. Polygon modified the way in which Ethereum (ETH) scaled and onboarded 1000’s of mainstream dApps.
In 2025, its ecosystem is getting nearer to the discharge of Agglayer, a novel cross-chain interoperability infrastructure. The Polygon (POL) community itself stays energetic and revisits some data in varied metrics.
For example, Polygon (POL) cements itself because the go-to blockchain for small funds. One out of three small funds on-chain occurs on Polygon (POL), new information says.
Actual-world adoption begins with actual utilization.
Polygon leads in market share for small funds and is gaining in medium ones, as a result of persons are utilizing it for what issues: on a regular basis, low-fee P2P funds and trusted, common monetary exercise.
For the default funds rails, look… pic.twitter.com/NTihB9Fu2k
— Polygon (@0xPolygon) August 1, 2025
Additionally, Polygon (POL) is dealing with over $250 million month-to-month funds for Latin America’s digital switch programs.
