Polygon, a prominent Ethereum scaling project, has appointed co-founder Sandeep Nailwal as the first CEO of its Foundation — moving away from a purely decentralized leadership structure.
Nailwal’s elevation comes amid a strategic reorganization aimed at focusing on core technologies. Under his guidance, Polygon will sunset its zkEVM initiative next year and concentrate development on the PoS (Proof‑of‑Stake) chain and “AggLayer” interoperability solutions.
In a statement, Nailwal emphasized the need to streamline decision-making, deliver rapid execution, and capitalize on the project’s robust treasury. He believes this centralization of authority will enable sharper direction and optimized resource allocation, enhancing value for POL token stakers and the ecosystem at large.
This marks a key transition from community-driven governance to more hierarchical management, reflecting broader trends as blockchain projects mature into ambitious, goal-driven organizations. Analysts say Nailwal’s role could determine Polygon’s competitiveness in Ethereum scaling, DeFi, and cross-chain functionality.
However, stakeholders will watch closely: balancing efficiency with ecosystem decentralization remains a critical challenge in maintaining community trust while accelerating progress.
