Mihailo Bjelic Leaves Polygon Board

Mihailo Bjelic, one of the founders of Polygon, has announced his decision to step down from his position on the Board of Directors of the Polygon Foundation.

On Friday, May 23, 2025, Bjelic shared his decision via a post on X. He indicated that he will also reduce his day-to-day involvement with Polygon Labs.

“Polygon was born in 2019, and we’ve come a long way since then,” Bjelic wrote. “From major breakthroughs in zero-knowledge technology to onboarding some of the world’s biggest brands, we’ve made impressive strides toward our grand vision. I’m proud of that, and grateful for the opportunity to work with so many talented people.”

Bjelic entered the crypto space in 2013 and “fell deep down the rabbit hole” in 2017. He co-founded Polygon, a layer-2 scaling solution on Ethereum, along with Jaynti Kanani, Sandeep Nailwal, and Anurag Arjun. The project, which was among the most searched proof-of-stake blockchains in the US in 2023, has changed its name from Matic Network over the years.

Why did he take this step? Bjelic explains it as follows:

“As projects develop and mature, it is natural for visions to evolve and sometimes diverge. With this in mind, I can no longer contribute to Polygon in the best possible way.”

Although he will no longer be actively involved in the project, he is confident that Polygon will continue to thrive. Bjelic will continue to offer his support from the sidelines.

With his departure from the Polygon Foundation Board of Directors, he joins co-founders Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun, who have both stepped down from their active roles within the blockchain project. Kanani left Polygon in October 2023. Arjun stepped down in March 2023 to focus on his modular blockchain project Avail.

Nailwal described through X the impact Bjelic has had, both on him personally and on Polygon.

“More than a co-founder, you’re a brother. From the very first days — whiteboards full of ideas, endless whitepapers, governance frameworks, late-night strategy conversations — you’ve meant so much to what Polygon is today,” he added.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the reason for Bjelic's departure from the Board of Directors?
Bjelic feels that as the project evolves, his vision no longer aligns with Polygon's, and he wants to contribute as best he can, which is no longer possible now.

What are the expected consequences of his departure for Polygon?
Bjelic is confident that Polygon will continue to grow and flourish even though he is no longer actively involved, and he will continue to offer his support from the sidelines.

Who are the other founders who have also stepped down from their active roles within Polygon?
In addition to Bjelic, Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun have also stepped down from their active roles in the project, with Kanani leaving in October 2023 and Arjun leaving in March 2023.

The journey of Polygon continues, and with the new dynamics within the team, we can look forward to an exciting future. Be inspired by the developments in this immersive world of blockchain en crypto! Stay involved, stay curious and who knows what is around the corner for you.