Polygon Co-Founder Mihailo Bjelic Steps Down: A Crypto Saga Unfolds

Breaking News: Bjelic's Departure Shakes Polygon's Core

In a stunning move that's rocking the crypto world, Mihailo Bjelic, the visionary co-founder of Polygon, has announced he's stepping down from the board of the Polygon Foundation. This isn't just a quiet exit; it's a bold statement in the ever-evolving blockchain landscape.

Bjelic dropped the bombshell via a fiery post on X on Friday, May 23, 2025. Not only is he leaving the board, but he's also winding down his daily grind at Polygon Labs. Talk about a double whammy!

"Polygon was born in 2019, and we've come a long way since then," Bjelic declared. "From mind-blowing breakthroughs in zero-knowledge tech to onboarding some of the world's biggest brands, we've made epic strides toward that grand vision. I'm damn proud of this, and grateful for the privilege to work with so many brilliant minds."

This isn't just any crypto dude; Bjelic dove deep into the crypto rabbit hole back in 2013 and by 2017, he was in the thick of it.

He co-founded Polygon, the beast of a layer-2 scaling solution on Ethereum, with Jaynti Kanani, Sandeep Nailwal, and Anurag Arjun. This project, which rebranded from Matic Network, was the most searched proof-of-stake blockchain in the U.S. last year. That's some serious crypto clout!

But why the exit? Bjelic isn't holding back: "As projects evolve and mature, it's 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."

He's stepping back from the frontline, but he's not throwing in the towel completely. Bjelic believes Polygon will keep crushing it, and he's ready to cheer from the sidelines.

Bjelic's departure isn't happening in a vacuum. He's joining co-founders Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun, who've already stepped down from active roles. Kanani bailed in October 2023, while Arjun left in March 2023 to chase his modular blockchain dream, Avail.

Sandeep Nailwal, the remaining co-founder, took to X with emotions running high. "More than a co-founder, you're a brother," he said. "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 what makes Polygon what it is today."