POL (ex-MATIC) PricePOL

As of July 21, 2025, the cryptocurrency market is experiencing significant developments across various sectors, including regulatory advancements, institutional investments, and market dynamics. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the latest events shaping the crypto landscape.

Regulatory Developments

GENIUS Act Signed into Law

On July 18, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act into law. This landmark legislation establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for stablecoins, cryptocurrencies pegged to the U.S. dollar. The act mandates that stablecoins be fully backed by liquid assets such as U.S. dollars and short-term Treasury bills, with issuers required to disclose their reserves monthly. This move aims to enhance the legitimacy and trustworthiness of stablecoins, potentially boosting consumer and institutional adoption. However, some critics argue that the law lacks sufficient safeguards against money laundering and grants undue power to large tech firms and foreign issuers.

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Established

In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, positioning Bitcoin as a national reserve asset. This initiative involves capitalizing the reserve with Bitcoin already owned by the federal government, estimated at approximately 200,000 BTC as of March 2025. The establishment of this reserve underscores the administration's commitment to integrating digital assets into the national financial infrastructure.

Institutional Investments and Market Dynamics

Bitcoin Achieves New All-Time High

Bitcoin has reached a new all-time high, trading at $117,261. This surge is attributed to substantial institutional inflows and renewed legislative optimism in the U.S. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen significant inflows, with BlackRock's IBIT ETF reaching $80 billion in assets under management within 374 days. Corporate treasury adoption has also increased, with companies like Japan's Metaplanet accumulating substantial Bitcoin holdings.

Ethereum and Altcoin Performance

Ethereum is currently trading at $3,762.09, reflecting positive market sentiment. Other altcoins have also experienced notable movements:

• BNB (BNB): Trading at $758.03.
• XRP (XRP): Trading at $3.46.
• Cardano (ADA): Trading at $0.858896.
• Dogecoin (DOGE): Trading at $0.271959.
• Polkadot (DOT): Trading at $4.49.
• Uniswap (UNI): Trading at $10.68.
• Litecoin (LTC): Trading at $116.83.
• Chainlink (LINK): Trading at $19.3.

Institutional Accumulation and ETF Inflows

The market dynamics reveal coordinated institutional accumulation. Bitcoin ETF flows indicate strategic repositioning, with BlackRock maintaining leadership and Fidelity reversing prior outflows with substantial inflows. This reflects a balance between tactical adjustments and long-term conviction among institutions. The cumulative Bitcoin ETF positions demonstrate sustained institutional engagement, with BlackRock holding approximately 709,806 BTC and 21Shares solidifying its second position at around 47,225 BTC.

Regulatory Clarity and Global Developments

MiCA Regulation in the EU

The Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation officially came into force across Europe on July 15, 2025. This regulation sets new standards for crypto firms regarding licensing, custody, and stablecoin reserves, providing much-needed regulatory clarity and potentially fostering greater adoption of digital assets within the European Union.

U.S. SEC Approves Spot Ethereum ETFs

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved eight spot Ethereum ETFs, expected to start trading within the next two weeks. This approval adds credibility to Ethereum as an investable asset and signifies a growing acceptance of digital assets within traditional financial markets.

Hong Kong's Digital Asset Retail Trading Portal

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has launched a retail-focused portal for trading licensed digital assets, signaling a regulatory shift in Asia toward crypto acceptance. This development could position Hong Kong as a significant player in the digital asset market and attract both retail and institutional investors.

Conclusion

The cryptocurrency market is undergoing transformative changes, driven by regulatory advancements, institutional investments, and evolving market dynamics. The signing of the GENIUS Act and the establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in the U.S. reflect a growing integration of digital assets into national financial strategies. Concurrently, institutional inflows into Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs underscore the increasing acceptance of cryptocurrencies within traditional financial systems. As regulatory frameworks continue to evolve globally, the crypto market is poised for further growth and mainstream adoption.

Polygon, formerly known as Matic Network, is a blockchain platform designed to create a multi-chain system compatible with Ethereum. It utilizes a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism to process on-chain transactions efficiently. The native token of Polygon is POL, an ERC-20 token that ensures compatibility with other Ethereum-based cryptocurrencies. The platform is operated by Polygon Labs.

History and Evolution

Launched in 2017 by software engineers Jaynti Kanani, Sandeep Nailwal, Anurag Arjun, and Mihailo Bjelic, the project was initially named Matic Network. In February 2021, it rebranded to Polygon Technology. Significant milestones include the acquisition of Hermez Network for $250 million in August 2021 and the purchase of the Mir blockchain network for approximately $400 million in December 2021. In February 2022, Polygon raised $450 million through a funding round led by Sequoia Capital India, with participation from Tiger Global and SoftBank Vision Fund. Notably, in November 2022, JPMorgan Chase executed its first live trade on a public blockchain using Polygon and a modified Aave protocol.

Technological Framework

Polygon employs a modified proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, allowing consensus to be reached with every block. This method requires network participants to stake their POL tokens in exchange for the right to validate transactions. Successful validators are rewarded with POL tokens proportionally to their stake. The platform addresses Ethereum's challenges, such as high transaction fees and slow processing speeds, by processing transactions off-chain before finalizing them on the Ethereum network. In January 2024, Polygon announced AggLayer, a protocol aimed at aggregating zero-knowledge proofs from multiple blockchains, enabling developers to connect layer 1 and 2 blockchains into a unified network.

Transition from MATIC to POL

On September 4, 2024, Polygon introduced its new native token, POL, marking a significant shift from the existing MATIC token. This upgrade was part of Polygon's strategy to evolve from a single proof-of-stake network into a broader ecosystem of blockchains powered by zero-knowledge technology. The transition was designed to be seamless, with MATIC holders able to convert their tokens to POL at a 1:1 ratio. The new POL contract address is ERC20: 0x455e53CBB86018Ac2B8092FdCd39d8444aFFC3F6.

Tokenomics and Utility

POL is designed to be a hyperproductive asset, allowing holders to validate multiple chains and assume multiple roles within each chain, thereby providing multiple streams of rewards. This design ensures the Polygon ecosystem remains secure, coordinated, and primed for growth. Validators stake POL to join the validator pool, enhancing the ecosystem's security, and are rewarded with predefined amounts of POL to incentivize their participation. The emission policy of POL is predefined and deterministic, balancing ecosystem support and token scarcity to ensure network security.

Market Performance

As of July 21, 2025, POL is trading at $0.252422 USD. The token's market performance reflects its adoption and the overall growth of the Polygon ecosystem. The transition from MATIC to POL has been well-received, with over 6.5 billion tokens migrated, indicating strong community support.

Partnerships and Ecosystem Growth

Polygon has established partnerships with major companies, including Starbucks and Mastercard, and participated in the Disney Accelerator Program in 2022. In April 2023, Polygon and Google Cloud formed a strategic alliance to accelerate the adoption of Polygon protocols, enhancing the development of Web3 products and decentralized applications. Additionally, in September 2023, Polygon Labs announced that Google Cloud would become a validator of the Polygon network, utilizing the same infrastructure as YouTube and Gmail.

Conclusion

Polygon's transition from MATIC to POL signifies a strategic evolution aimed at enhancing scalability, security, and multi-chain integration. With its robust technological framework, strategic partnerships, and a clear vision for the future, Polygon is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in the blockchain ecosystem.