Polygon Co-Founder Questions Loyalty to Ethereum, Sparking Ecosystem Tensions

Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal has publicly expressed doubts about his loyalty to Ethereum, citing feelings of underappreciation from the Ethereum community despite Polygon's long-standing role in scaling the network. In an October 2025 post on X, Nailwal stated that his moral loyalty to Ethereum has cost Polygon billions of dollars in potential valuation, arguing that if Polygon had positioned itself as an independent Layer 1 blockchain, its value could have been two to five times higher.

Nailwal's frustration stems from what he describes as a lack of direct support and recognition from the Ethereum Foundation, even though Polygon has developed key scaling solutions like the Polygon zkEVM and zero-knowledge projects. He highlighted that the Ethereum community has become insular and difficult to work with, making it challenging for external builders to gain traction. This sentiment was echoed by Andre Cronje, co-founder of Sonic Labs, who revealed he burned over 700 ETH building on Ethereum without receiving grants, retweets, or any form of support from the foundation.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin responded calmly but firmly, praising Polygon's technical contributions and Nailwal's charitable efforts through initiatives like CryptoRelief. However, Buterin pointed out that Polygon is not yet a complete Ethereum Layer 2 due to the absence of a full proof system for transaction verification. He suggested that newer, low-cost zero-knowledge proof technology could help Polygon achieve true Layer 2 status, emphasizing the need for strict safety standards.

This exchange has ignited a broader discussion about unity and support within the Ethereum ecosystem, raising questions about whether Polygon might reconsider its ties to Ethereum in the future. The crypto community is closely monitoring the situation, as any shift could impact investor and developer perceptions of both projects.