TLDR
- Mihailo Bjelic has stepped down from the Polygon Foundation board and is becoming the third co-founder to leave.
- Bjelic stated that the project’s evolution led to differing visions, influencing his exit decision.
- Despite stepping down, Bjelic will continue to support POL from the sidelines without daily involvement.
- Earlier exits by co-founders Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun have left Sandeep Nailwal as the only active board member.
- Polygon experienced network health challenges in early 2025, sparking speculation about its current state.
Polygon (POL) faces a notable shift as Mihailo Bjelic, a co-founder, leaves the Polygon Foundation board. This departure marks the third founder exit following Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun. Bjelic will no longer take an active role but will support Polygon from the sidelines.
Why Mihailo Bjelic Is Leaving Polygon Leadership
Mihailo Bjelic explained that Polygon’s growth and maturity influenced his decision to step down. He noted that as projects evolve, the visions of their leaders can diverge. Consequently, Bjelic acknowledged he could not contribute to Polygon as before.
Bjelic remains optimistic about Polygon’s future as a Layer-2 scaling solution on Ethereum. He confirmed he would cease his daily involvement with Polygon Labs. However, he intends to cheer on Polygon’s progress from a distance.
PSA: After much thought and reflection, I’ve decided to step down from the board of the Polygon Foundation, and wind down my day-to-day involvement with Polygon Labs.
I was introduced to crypto in 2013 (damn, time flies). By 2017, I was deep down the rabbit hole, fascinated by…
— Mihailo Bjelic (@MihailoBjelic) May 23, 2025
The departure follows earlier exits by co-founders Arjun and Kanani, who also left their roles at Polygon Foundation. Arjun shifted his focus to a modular blockchain project, while Kanani retired after years with POL. Presently, only co-founder Sandeep Nailwal remains on Polygon’s board.
Polygon Faces Concerns After Founder Exits
Polygon’s community reacted with concern to Bjelic’s departure, viewing it as a significant loss. Some observers speculate that the exits indicate challenges within the Polygon ecosystem. Nonetheless, no concrete evidence has surfaced to confirm these concerns.
In 2025, Polygon experienced a decline in network health, sparking doubts about the project’s stability. This period saw increased scrutiny over Polygon’s token, POL, and its market performance. Despite these setbacks, POL continues development and innovation efforts.
POL has made major strides in zero-knowledge technology and onboarding large-scale brands. These achievements underline ongoing progress despite founder changes. The ecosystem’s rebranding from Matic Network to Polygon also signals its evolution.
Polygon’s Path Forward After Leadership Changes
Polygon’s token migration from MATIC to POL reflects its strategic shift and growth ambitions. Despite recent board exits, the remaining leadership aims to maintain the project’s momentum. POL continues to focus on expanding its Layer-2 solutions for Ethereum.
The founders’ departures highlight natural changes in a maturing project’s leadership structure. Polygon’s long-term vision remains centered on scaling Ethereum and fostering blockchain adoption. Supporters expect Polygon to build on its past innovations.
