Polygon Co-Founder Mihailo Bjelic Steps Down, Plans to Stay in Crypto Space

Mihailo Bjelic, co-founder of the Ethereum scaling solution Polygon, has announced his decision to step down from the project's day-to-day operations. This move marks a significant shift in his involvement with the platform, which he helped establish in 2017. Bjelic expressed confidence in Polygon's future and its passionate community, stating that he would focus on new ventures while continuing to contribute to the crypto ecosystem from the sidelines.

The announcement was made via a post on X, where Bjelic shared his plans to "wind down" his involvement and remain engaged with the crypto space. He emphasized his belief in Polygon's bright future and the importance of its community. Bjelic's departure from daily operations reflects a broader trend among tech founders stepping back to explore new opportunities.

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

Polygon has been at the forefront of blockchain scalability solutions, particularly through the use of zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. The project has been exploring ways to integrate ZK technology into its main chain, aiming to enhance transaction speed and reduce costs. Bjelic's expertise in this area has been instrumental in shaping Polygon's technological direction.

Bjelic’s departure marks the third major exit from Polygon’s original founding team in under two years. Jaynti Kanani stepped down in October 2023, followed by Anurag Arjun in March 2023. With Bjelic now stepping back, Sandeep Nailwal is the sole remaining co-founder still actively leading the project.

Polygon (previously Matic Network) is the world’s first well-structured, easy-to-use platform for Ethereum scaling and infrastructure development. POL is up 3% over the last 24 hours and currently trading at $0.238. 

Despite stepping back from daily operations, Bjelic's commitment to the crypto space remains strong. His decision to contribute from the sidelines suggests a continued interest in the development of blockchain technologies. The crypto community will be watching closely to see how his future endeavors unfold and what impact they may have on the industry.