
- Leadership change at Polygon after Bjelic’s departure.
- Market reaction with POL seeing a 4% price drop.
- Potential concerns over leadership stability after founder exits.
Mihailo Bjelic, a co-founder of Polygon, announced on May 23, 2025, that he is stepping down from the Polygon Foundation’s board, leaving Sandeep Nailwal as the sole remaining original co-founder.
Bjelic’s exit may signal concerns about Polygon’s future direction, with market reactions indicating investor anxiety over leadership changes.
Bjelic co-founded Polygon after exploring the crypto space deeply since 2013. He announced he would wind down his involvement due to diverging visions within the project, leaving Nailwal as the remaining co-founder.
Mihailo Bjelic, Co-founder, Polygon, “As projects evolve and mature, it is natural for visions to evolve, and sometimes diverge. With this in mind, I can no longer contribute to Polygon to the best of my abilities. That said, I remain confident that Polygon leadership is committed to the success of the crypto project. I’ll always be cheering from the sidelines, and supporting however and whenever I can.”
Bjelic’s departure led to a 4% drop in Polygon’s POL token price, reflecting market apprehensions. Investors are wary of leadership stability amid recurring founder exits, despite the project’s ongoing success in the Layer-2 Ethereum solution space.
The market’s reaction underscores the significance of leadership in maintaining investor confidence. Polygon’s TVL remains undisclosed, but price changes indicate underlying concerns. Amidst these leadership changes, industry’s focus might shift to the project’s future strategies and the consistency of its growth trajectory.
Potential outcomes include altering market dynamics, investor reevaluation, and technological adaptations. Historical patterns of leadership turnover suggest challenges but also present new opportunities for innovation in blockchain development.