May 23, 2025: In a major leadership update at one of Ethereum’s top scaling platforms, Polygon co-founder Mihailo Bjelic has officially announced his resignation from the board of the Polygon Foundation.
Departure Announced via Social Media
Bjelic made the announcement through a post on X (formerly Twitter). In addition to stepping down from the board, he stated that he will also begin to “wind down” his day-to-day responsibilities at Polygon Labs. As a result, the move signals the end of an era for one of the project’s original visionaries.
Early Journey in Crypto and Founding Polygon
Looking back, Bjelic has been a veteran of the crypto industry since 2013. He entered the blockchain space full-time by 2017. Subsequently, he joined forces with Jaynti Kanani, Sandeep Nailwal, and Anurag Arjun to co-found Polygon: initially launched as Matic Network before rebranding in 2021.
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Polygon’s Rise as an Ethereum Scaling Giant
Over the years, Polygon has grown into one of the leading layer-2 scaling solutions for Ethereum. The project leverages proof-of-stake consensus and became one of the most searched blockchain platforms in the U.S. in 2023. This success can be attributed to its low fees, high throughput, and compatibility with Ethereum’s infrastructure.
Continued Support Despite Stepping Back
Although he is stepping away from daily operations, Bjelic expressed full confidence in Polygon’s continued success. Nevertheless, he mentioned that he will remain available to support the project “from the sidelines” as it moves forward under new leadership.
Follows Departures of Other Polygon Co-founders
Mihailo Bjelic’s departure closely follows similar exits by fellow co-founders Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun. Kanani left Polygon in October 2023, and Arjun departed in March 2023 to focus on developing Avail, his modular blockchain initiative.
What’s Next for Polygon?
With the exit of all founding members, Polygon now enters a new era: one led by its extended community and development teams. Despite this leadership transition, the platform remains central to Ethereum’s scalability roadmap and continues to play a vital role in the broader Web3 ecosystem.