Polygon: The co-founder relaunches the debate on the return of the MATIC ticker

Growing confusion around the identity of Polygon's token has pushed project leaders to reconsider a decision made only a year ago. Concerns from everyday users and long-time holders have reopened discussion about whether the network needs to abandon its current POL ticker and restore MATIC, the name many still recognize.

Market Downtrend Fuels New Discussion About MATIC Comeback

Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal reignited the topic by asking the community on X whether returning to MATIC should remain an option. He noted that while he personally supports maintaining POL, he still hears that many individual users are having difficulty finding or identifying the updated token. He added that small traders and gig economy workers who previously held MATIC often do not realize that the asset is now traded under a different ticker.

This repeated feedback prompted Nailwal to make the issue public. He insisted that recognition among casual users remains important, even if core contributors feel comfortable with POL. His post quickly garnered mixed reactions from traders, developers, and longtime community members.

Polygon rebranded MATIC to POL on September 4, 2024, presenting this change as an upgrade to support a multi-use token model. In this new structure, POL collects fees not only on gas and staking but also on tasks such as securing data availability or participating in the decentralized sequence. Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon Labs, explained that this change expanded the role of the token beyond what MATIC offered.

POL retreats below key levels as market weakness deepens

Despite the rebranding, Polygon continues to succumb to the continued decline in the market. According to the latest on-chain data, the coin is trading at $0.13, approximately 90% below its March 2024 all-time high of $1.29. Technically, the asset is below the 200-day simple moving average, further highlighting its struggles in the market.

Adding to this technical trend, the coin has experienced fewer than 12 green days in the past month. Experts believe that individuals' frustration with the token's new identity could contribute to its poor performance.

Polygon reconsiders the identity of its token, while users support the return of MATIC

Community responses to Nailwal's post reveal a sharp divide, with some arguing that tickers matter less than fundamentals. One user suggested that the project should stay focused on development and let the market naturally adjust to POL. Another noted that POL had already passed the difficult initial acceptance phase and that going back could create further confusion.

Others responded that MATIC maintains strong brand power among the first users. They emphasized that individual engagement remains crucial and that users who remember MATIC expect to see this ticker when searching for the asset.

We haven't really seen a new wave of retail entrants into the markets, so going back to Matic might actually be the right strategy here.

Mo Ezeldin

Several recurring arguments are at the center of the debate:

• MATIC enjoys greater global recognition than POL.
• Many home users are unaware of the rebranding.
• POL offers broader utility but lower visibility.
• Going back could reduce confusion during future phases of market growth.
• An alternative ticker, such as PGON, could avoid issues with old and new symbols.

Some participants also suggested choosing a completely new ticker to signal continuity without going back entirely. For them, a new symbol could help Polygon build a modern identity while avoiding the recognition problems that POL currently faces.

Nailwal did not commit to making a decision but mentioned that he remains open to community input. For now, Polygon management continues to weigh whether greater brand familiarity should guide the next steps in its token strategy.