- Polygon co-founder Mihailo Bjelic has left the Ethereum scaling project
- Bjelic said he’ll stay active in the blockchain space, but didn’t reveal his next move or project
- He has cut ties with both the Polygon Foundation and Polygon Labs
Polygon co-founder Mihailo Bjelic has stepped down from the Polygon Foundation and Polygon Labs, effectively leaving the Ethereum layer 2 project. He said that Polygon has evolved, matured, and somehow diverged from its vision, making it hard to contribute “to the best of [his] abilities.” Although he didn’t reveal his next move or project, he said that he isn’t leaving the blockchain space, adding that he’ll “be cheering from the sidelines and supporting [polygon] however and whenever [he] can.”
Polygon Is in Good Hands
In an X post, Bjelic said he believes Polygon is in good hands even after his departure, noting that the project’s leadership is committed to its success. He also said he remains passionate about crypto’s potential to “transform systems, empower individuals, and create a more equitable world.”
PSA: After much thought and reflection, I’ve decided to step down from the board of the Polygon Foundation, and wind down my day-to-day involvement with Polygon Labs.
I was introduced to crypto in 2013 (damn, time flies). By 2017, I was deep down the rabbit hole, fascinated by…
— Mihailo Bjelic (@MihailoBjelic) May 23, 2025
Bjelic didn’t disclose why he left, only saying that the decision came “after much thought and reflection.” Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal lamented his departure, saying that Bjelic was more than a fellow co-founder. Nailwal noted that Bjelic has “been a force behind so much of what makes Polygon what it is today.”
It’s hard to put into words what you mean to me and to Polygon. More than a co-founder, you’re a brother. From the earliest days — whiteboards full of ideas, endless whitepapers, governance frameworks, strategy calls deep into the night — you have been a force behind so much of…
— Sandeep | Polygon (※,※) (@sandeepnailwal) May 23, 2025
The crypto community congratulated Bjelic for his contribution and wished him well in “what is next.” Some community members noted that he had “a major impact in this space.” Others said they look forward to what he’ll build after exiting the Ethereum scaling layer.
He’s Not the First To Leave
Bjelic’s departure adds to the number of top Polygon figures leaving the project over the years. In 2023, for example, Jaynti Kanani, a Polygon co-founder, stepped down from the project. In the same year, another co-founder, Anuraj Arjun, left the layer 2 platform. The project’s former president, Ryan Wyatt, also stepped down from his role, but remained as an advisor.
His departure comes five months after Sports Illustrated migrated its NFT platform from Polygon to Avalanche and after Aave DAO announced it’s considering abandoning the Ethereum scaling layer.
With Bjelic leaving Polygon, it’s to be seen whether his departure will impact Polygon’s growth.
