What is Polygon?

Polygon is a fast, low-cost blockchain that is fully compatible with Ethereum — the same ERC-20 tokens and wallets work, but transactions cost a fraction of a cent instead of dollars.

Polygon in plain English

Polygon is a popular "EVM" blockchain — it runs the same smart-contract code as Ethereum, so any ERC-20 token, wallet (like MetaMask) or app works on it. The difference is speed and cost: Polygon settles transactions in seconds for tiny fees, which made it a favourite for tokens, payments, games and NFTs.

What is POL?

POL is Polygon's native coin (it replaced the old MATIC token in 2024). You use small amounts of POL to pay network fees — just like ETH on Ethereum or BNB on BNB Chain. A few POL is more than enough to deploy a token and make many transactions.

Why people choose Polygon

• Ultra-low fees — usually well under one cent.
• Ethereum-compatible — ERC-20 standard, MetaMask, same tooling.
• Fast — transactions confirm in a couple of seconds.
• Big ecosystem — major DeFi, NFT and payment apps.

Creating a token on Polygon

Because Polygon uses the ERC-20 standard, launching a token is the same simple process as Ethereum — only far cheaper. Our Polygon token creator deploys a verified contract in minutes with no coding. See also ERC-20 explained.

Is Polygon a good crypto to build on?

Polygon crypto has become a popular home for new tokens and projects, and it is worth understanding why. Polygon is built for fast, low-cost transactions, which makes it attractive for trading, DeFi and launching new tokens without high fees getting in the way. As an EVM-compatible network, Polygon runs the same ERC-20 token standard, wallets (like MetaMask) and developer tooling as Ethereum. That means anything you can build on Ethereum you can build on Polygon — including your own token — using familiar, battle-tested standards.

For anyone who wants to launch a token, this combination matters: Polygon gives you a real, liquid network with an active ecosystem of DeFi apps, DEXs and communities, while keeping the path to creating a token simple. In practice, Polygon crypto is used both by people trading and holding POL and the tokens built on it, and by builders who choose Polygon as the launchpad for their own coin. If you are weighing where to build, our guide to the best blockchain to create a token compares Polygon against the other major networks.

How to create your own Polygon token (no code)

You do not need to be a developer to launch a token on Polygon. Because most tokens are simply ERC-20 tokens deployed on the network, a no-code creator turns the whole process into a short form. Here is how it works:

1. Choose Polygon as your network in the Polygon token creator.
2. Set the details — your token's name, ticker symbol, total supply and decimals.
3. Plan the tokenomics — decide supply and allocation with the tokenomics generator.
4. Connect your wallet and deploy. You confirm one transaction and pay only the Polygon network fee in POL. Your token is then live on Polygon with a verifiable contract address.

The process is non-custodial — you connect your own wallet and keep full ownership of the token and its entire supply. Nobody else can mint, freeze or take it. That makes launching your own Polygon crypto token genuinely accessible to anyone with an idea and a wallet.

Getting started with Polygon crypto

If you are new to Polygon, the practical first steps are straightforward. You need a wallet that supports Polygon, and a small amount of POL to cover network fees. With those in place you can send and receive assets, use Polygon dApps and DEXs, and — when you are ready — create your own token. If you are still getting to grips with the fundamentals, start with what is cryptocurrency and crypto wallets explained, then come back to put it into practice.

The most empowering thing about Polygon is not just holding POL or trading the tokens on it — it is that the same open network lets you create your own Polygon token in minutes. That is the step that turns you from a participant in Polygon crypto into a builder on it.

Frequently asked questions