In a notable leadership shift within the Ethereum scaling ecosystem, Polygon co-founder Mihailo Bjelic has officially stepped down from his active role at Polygon Labs and the board of the Polygon Foundation, signaling a major transition in one of the most influential projects in the layer-2 space.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on May 23, Bjelic explained that the decision came after “much thought and reflection,” adding, “I’ll always be cheering from the sidelines and supporting however and whenever I can.” He emphasized that as projects evolve, it’s natural for visions to diverge, which has made it difficult for him to contribute at full capacity moving forward.
Bjelic’s Departure Marks Another Key Exit
Bjelic’s departure follows the earlier resignations of fellow Polygon Labs co-founders Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun over the past two years. Arjun now leads Avail, a Polygon spin-off focused on Web3 data availability and consensus, which became an independent entity in 2023.
Though Bjelic has not disclosed his next move, he assured the community that he remains “as passionate as ever about crypto” and hinted at staying involved in the industry: “You will likely still see me around,” he said.
Tributes from the Crypto Community
Sandeep Nailwal, Polygon’s co-founder and a close collaborator of Bjelic, praised his years of contribution, saying Bjelic has been “a force behind so much of what makes Polygon what it is today.”
Others echoed similar sentiments. Leon Stern, Polygon’s head of marketing, wrote, “Thanks for everything you’ve done for Polygon, and best of luck.” Marc Zeller, founder of the Aave-chan Initiative, called the move a “Big L for Polygon.” Meanwhile, Skale Network CEO Jack O’Holleran said Bjelic should be “very proud” of what he accomplished and looked forward to what comes next.
Polygon’s Momentum Continues
Despite the leadership changes, Polygon has maintained strong momentum in 2025. Notable developments include:
-
March 25: Real-world asset tokenization platform DigiShares launched RealEstate.Exchange (REX) on Polygon, enabling tokenized real estate trading.
-
January 16: Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of Asia’s richest person Mukesh Ambani, partnered with Polygon Labs to integrate Web3 capabilities into its services in India.
These advancements highlight Polygon’s growing role as a critical infrastructure player in both enterprise and DeFi sectors.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments are volatile and risky. Always conduct your research before making any investment decisions.
