Polygon Foundation CEO Sandeep Nailwal has publicly expressed doubts about his "moral loyalty" to Ethereum, citing a perceived lack of support from the Ethereum Foundation (EF) and community. Nailwal's remarks come amid broader criticism from industry figures regarding the EF's treatment of developers and its recognition of projects built upon Ethereum.
Key Takeaways
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Polygon CEO Sandeep Nailwal is questioning his loyalty to Ethereum due to a perceived lack of support from the Ethereum Foundation and community.
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Nailwal believes Polygon has made significant contributions to Ethereum without adequate recognition, potentially costing the project billions in valuation.
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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin acknowledged Polygon's achievements but noted its lack of a proof system for full Ethereum Layer 2 security guarantees.
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Criticism of the Ethereum Foundation's leadership and developer recognition has been echoed by other prominent figures in the blockchain space.
Growing Frustration Within the Ethereum Ecosystem
Sandeep Nailwal, who also co-founded Polygon, stated on X that he has always felt a "moral loyalty" towards Ethereum, even if it meant forgoing the opportunity to brand Polygon as a standalone Layer-1 network, a move he believes could have significantly increased its valuation. He expressed disappointment that Polygon has not received direct support from the Ethereum Foundation or its community, suggesting the opposite has occurred.
Nailwal's sentiments align with those of Péter Szilágyi, a core developer for Geth (Ethereum's Go implementation), who shared an open letter detailing his frustrations with the EF's internal operations and developer recognition. Szilágyi criticized the foundation for not adequately appreciating its contributors, leading to a "disconnect" between public perception and internal practices.
Vitalik Buterin's Response and Polygon's Layer 2 Status
In response to Nailwal's post, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin acknowledged Polygon's significant contributions, including hosting the Polymarket platform and advancing zk-EVM technology. Buterin also commended Nailwal's personal efforts with CryptoRelief. However, Buterin pointed out that Polygon does not currently possess a proof system that would grant it the full security assurances expected of an Ethereum Layer 2 solution. He suggested that Polygon could integrate existing ZK technology to achieve this.
Broader Criticisms and Industry Support
Nailwal's critique extends to the Ethereum community's perception of Polygon, arguing that it is neither fully recognized as a true Layer 2 nor included in the "Ethereum beta." He highlighted instances where successes of projects on Polygon, like Polymarket, are attributed to "Ethereum," while Polygon itself is not similarly recognized. This sentiment was echoed by Yearn Finance founder Andre Cronje, who also reported receiving no support or outreach from the EF despite significant investment in Ethereum infrastructure.
Some industry figures, including Solana co-founder Raj Gokal, have suggested that Polygon could explore partnerships with or even become a Layer 2 on Solana, a direct competitor to Ethereum.
Sources
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Polygon Boss Questions Loyalty to Ethereum in Rant, Cointelegraph.
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Polygon boss says he's been 'questioning his loyalty' toward Ethereum, EF under scrutiny, Cryptopolitan.
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