Ethereum’s co-founder Vitalik Buterin publicly commends Polygon’s contributions and Nailwal’s leadership after a rare moment of candid reflection about loyalty and recognition.
In Brief
- Loyalty Tested: Polygon’s Sandeep Nailwal said he had questioned, then reaffirmed, his loyalty to Ethereum amid frustration with community recognition.
- Buterin’s Response: Buterin praised Nailwal’s leadership, Polygon’s ZK-EVM work, and philanthropic impact.
- Ecosystem Impact: The X posts highlight Ethereum’s evolving Layer 2 ecosystem and renewed confidence in Polygon’s role.
Buterin and Polygon: A Public Exchange of Loyalty and Respect
A rare and candid exchange between Buterin and Polygon co-founder Nailwal unfolded on X this week, spotlighting both the personal and technical dynamics shaping Ethereum’s scaling ecosystem. Nailwal shared a post reflecting on his long-standing loyalty to Ethereum, saying he had begun to “question” it amid what he called a “shit show” of community politics and limited acknowledgment from the Ethereum Foundation.
Despite his frustrations, Nailwal reaffirmed his commitment to Ethereum, noting that if Polygon rebranded as a standalone Layer 1 chain, “it could be valued 2–5× higher.” Instead, he chose loyalty. “I’m also a stubborn, hard-ass soul,” he wrote. “I’m going to give this a final push.” The post drew widespread attention and reignited debate over recognition and alignment within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Buterin Praises Nailwal and Polygon’s Contributions
In a direct and unambiguous response, Buterin praised Polygon’s role in Ethereum’s development and Nailwal’s personal commitment. “I really appreciate both Sandeep Nailwal’s personal contributions and Polygon’s immensely valuable role in the Ethereum ecosystem,” Buterin wrote.
He cited Polymarket as “probably the single most successful example of a ‘not boring finance’ app that has actually been successful and provided value,” crediting Polygon for hosting “plenty of other applications that have needed high levels of scalability.” Buterin also praised Polygon’s early work on zero-knowledge (ZK) EVM proving and infrastructure like AggLayer, calling both critical to Ethereum’s roadmap.
Buterin went further, highlighting Nailwal’s CryptoRelief fund, which directed hundreds of millions toward biomedical infrastructure in India. He also recalled Nailwal’s voluntary return of $190 million in SHIB token proceeds that Buterin had donated, noting it enabled the Balvi open-source anti-airborne-disease biotech program.
Chain Street’s Take
The exchange between Buterin and Polygon’s Nailwal highlights the tension between moral loyalty and market recognition in Ethereum’s expanding ecosystem. Nailwal’s comments reflect the emotional weight of building within a decentralized network, while Buterin’s public response reinforces Polygon’s integral role in Ethereum’s scaling strategy.
Buterin’s remarks reaffirm confidence in Polygon’s future and the broader L2 roadmap. With zero-knowledge proving costs now near $0.0001 per transaction, Polygon is positioned to leverage mature ZK technology and strengthen its ties to Ethereum. This renewed alignment signals both personal reconciliation and strategic clarity within Ethereum’s multi-layer ecosystem.
