Top 3 Best and Worst Polygon (POL, formerly MATIC) Price Predictions for 2026

This material is a practical guide: what Polygon (POL, formerly MATIC) is, how it works, why the project ended up in the "L2 wars" against Base and Arbitrum, and what are the 3 best and 3 worst price scenarios for 2026 to consider. We draw on price history, tokenomics, network updates, and facts about competition, as well as the latest news on AggLayer and institutional partnerships.

What is Polygon and how does it work?

Polygon is an ecosystem of solutions for scaling Ethereum. In 2025, the MATIC token was replaced by POL to emphasize the new staking model and the expansion of the Supernets network. Unlike Optimistic Rollups (Arbitrum), Polygon relies on ZK proofs and AggLayer, a technology that combines the liquidity of different L2s into a single network.

Source: stakin.com

Dual Ticker Strategy: MATIC → POL

In 2025, Polygon officially switched from the MATIC ticker to POL. However, most users and investors continue to search for information specifically on "MATIC." Therefore, in analytics and forecasts, it is important to use the term "Polygon (POL)" as the primary term, but to regularly mention "ex-MATIC" or "formerly MATIC" for SEO relevance and clarity. This helps to retain the attention of an audience that is not yet accustomed to the new ticker, while emphasizing POL's updated tokenomics.

"A proposal to eliminate POL's 2% inflation and launch a buyback program is being discussed on the Polygon forum as a way to regain the trust of holders." — Cointelegraph

Zombie Narrative: L2 Wars and Polygon's Struggle

Polygon is no longer the "default" solution for Ethereum scaling. In 2025-2026, there is a real L2 war going on: Base (from Coinbase) is winning thanks to its retail reach and marketing, while Arbitrum maintains its leadership in DeFi by TVL. Polygon is forced to fight for survival, proving the value of its AggLayer technology and ZK proofs. In this context, POL price predictions for 2026 are not just numbers, but a reflection of whether the project will be able to retain users and institutional partnerships or turn into a "Zombie Chain."

"Base wins retail, Arbitrum wins DeFi, and Polygon has to prove that its technology really works." — FaucetWorld

Source: oakresearch.io

Polygon (POL, ex-MATIC) price history and volatility

In 2025, POL traded in the $0.20–0.30 range after replacing the MATIC ticker. MATIC peaked at $2+ in previous cycles, but the transition to POL was accompanied by declining interest and competition from Base and Arbitrum. Volatility remains high, and liquidity depends on the activity of corporate partners and institutional upgrades.

Source: coinbird.com

Top 3 best Polygon price predictions for 2026

1. "AggLayer Victory": $1.20–1.30. If the liquidity pooling technology works to its full potential, Polygon will become the center of Ethereum scaling, and POL will establish itself as the main staking token for a multitude of Supernets.

"Institutional investors, including Berkshire Hathaway and Wellington, have increased their positions in POL following the launch of AggLayer v0.2." — AInvest

Source: cryptobites.cc

2. "Conservative recovery": $0.42–0.45. Organic growth through maintaining corporate partnerships (Nike, Starbucks, Reddit) and a gradual return of interest in POL, despite competition from Base.
3. "Technical breakout": $0.28. Breaking through the $0.20 resistance opens the way for a 40% increase to the next liquidity range, which could attract technical traders and bring attention back to the coin.

Top 3 worst Polygon price predictions for 2026

1. "Zombie Chain": <$0.05. Base and Arbitrum capture the L2 market, Polygon loses users and becomes a "ghost town" with strong technology but no real demand.
2. "Stagnation": $0.11–0.12. The price remains flat, POL becomes a "stable coin" due to pressure from old MATIC holders and the lack of new growth catalysts.
3. "Inflationary erosion": $0.00–0.05. POL's new tokenomics with infinite emission reduces the real value of the token; if demand does not exceed inflation, the price gradually tends toward zero.

Key drivers of POL cryptocurrency growth

• AggLayer: combining the liquidity of different L2s into a single network based on ZK proofs. This is Polygon's key technological "moat."

Source: polygon.technology

• Institutional partnerships: Nike, Starbucks, and Reddit continue to use Polygon, which supports demand for POL.
• Madhugiri upgrade (December 2025): reducing latency and improving network performance, paving the way for high-frequency trading applications.
• Community and brand "ex-MATIC": Old users remain loyal to MATIC, helping POL retain its user base.
• Competition: Base and Arbitrum are setting the pace, but Polygon could win out thanks to the interoperability and flexibility of Supernets.

Conclusion on MATIC/POL scenarios

Polygon is in a "do or die" phase. It is competing against Base and Arbitrum, and only AggLayer and institutional partnerships can bring the project back into the spotlight. The best-case scenarios show growth above $1 if the technology is successful and partners are retained. The worst-case scenarios push the price below $0.05 if it loses the L2 Wars.

The best tactics are ready-made scenarios, clear risk management, and selecting signals based on facts, not news noise.

If you want to work with cryptocurrency in a more sustainable model, check out GoMining. It's a platform that lets you earn income from BTC mining without buying equipment or doing complicated setup. For beginners, it's a chance to enter the market through an easy-to-understand tool, and for experienced investors, it's a way to diversify risks and add a stable source of income to their portfolio.

Subscribe and get access to the GoMining course on crypto and Bitcoin, which is still free.

Telegram | Discord | Twitter (X) | Medium | Instagram  

FAQ

1. What are the Polygon price predictions for 2026? This is a selection of three optimistic and three pessimistic scenarios for the development of POL's value. Such an overview helps investors assess possible ranges of growth and decline, taking into account the influence of technology, competition, and community activity.
2. How do Polygon price predictions work in the crypto market? They are based on price history analysis, the launch of AggLayer, institutional upgrades, and the market's reaction to competition from Base and Arbitrum.
3. What are the advantages and risks of Polygon price predictions? The advantage is the ability to evaluate different scenarios in advance and prepare a risk management strategy. The risks are high volatility, competition in the L2 Wars, and the POL inflationary model.
4. How to use Polygon price predictions in 2025? Keep an eye on triggers: the launch of AggLayer, the Madhugiri upgrade, major partnerships, and TVL dynamics. Compare them with metrics and apply entry/exit scenarios for risk management.
5. What metrics are important for evaluating Polygon forecasts? Price and trading volume, POL staking share, Supernets activity, institutional upgrades, on-chain movements, and community metrics.
6. Is it possible to make money on Polygon cryptocurrency forecasts? Yes, if you use forecasts as part of risk management: enter when the scenario is confirmed and lock in profits in target ranges. But there are no guarantees; L2 competition and inflation make POL a risky asset.
7. What mistakes do beginners most often make when buying Polygon? They buy at the peak of hype, ignore inflation risks, do not take into account competition from Base and Arbitrum, trust unverified sources, and do not lock in losses in time.
8. How do Polygon price predictions affect the cryptocurrency market? They form the information background, increase volatility, set liquidity for more experienced players, and influence the behavior of retail traders.
9. What do experts expect from Polygon in 2026? Increased interest if AggLayer and institutional upgrades are successful, but scenarios of stagnation and the title of "Zombie Chain" are also possible if competitors prevail.
10. Where can you follow updates on Polygon price forecasts? On exchange websites, in CoinMarketCap, Cointelegraph, and Bloomberg analytics, as well as in on-chain data reports and official Polygon blogs.

NFA, DYOR. 

The cryptocurrency market operates 24/7/365 without interruptions. Before investing, always do your own research and evaluate risks. Nothing from the aforementioned in this article constitutes financial advice or investment recommendation. Content provided "as is", all claims are verified with third parties and relevant in-house and external experts. Use of this content for AI training purposes is strictly prohibited.

Polygon (POL, ex-MATIC) price predictions for 2026: top 3 best and top 3 worst scenarios. Analysis of AggLayer, competition with Base and Arbitrum, institutional drivers, and inflation risks. A practical guide for investors: how to use scenarios, what metrics to track, and how to manage risks.