POL pays the fee, not ETH
Polygon PoS does not use ETH for gas. Transactions are paid for in the network’s native asset, POL. Holding ETH on Polygon PoS as a token does not let you pay a fee, and holding POL on another network does not either.
This is the most common Polygon-specific failure: an account with a healthy stablecoin balance and no native balance, which can receive but cannot send.
What happened to MATIC
Polygon documents a transition from MATIC to POL as the native gas token on Polygon PoS, which took effect automatically for balances on that network from September 2024. A wallet or interface that has not been updated may still display the former symbol for what is now POL.
MATIC held on Ethereum is a separate case with its own migration path — it is not the same as a Polygon PoS native balance, and should not be treated as one. The detail is in POL vs MATIC for gas.
Token versions on Polygon
Circle issues native USDC on Polygon PoS, and a bridged representation from the period before native issuance also circulates. As on other networks, read the contract address, and check which version your destination credits.
Cost in practice
Polygon PoS fees are generally low in absolute terms, which makes it attractive for small transfers where the recipient accepts it. Budget a small POL balance in advance: an account funded only with stablecoins will be stuck until it receives some.
Frequently asked
My wallet still says MATIC. Is that wrong?
Not necessarily wrong, just out of date. Polygon documents the automatic transition to POL as the Polygon PoS gas token; some interfaces continue to display the old symbol for the same native balance.
Can I pay Polygon fees with USDC?
Not by default. The native asset pays the fee. Some wallets document conditional arrangements for supported transactions; check that wallet’s own documentation.
Is MATIC on Ethereum the same as POL on Polygon?
No. A balance on Ethereum is a token on Ethereum and has its own migration treatment. It is not a Polygon PoS native gas balance.
Sources & further reading
- Polygon: network details
Mainnet chain ID 137 and the POL gas token.
- Polygon: POL documentation
Native gas role and the transition from MATIC.
- Polygon: migrate to POL
Separate treatment of MATIC held on Ethereum.
- Circle: USDC contract addresses
Native USDC deployment addresses per network.
Sources checked on 18 September 2026. Network features and platform support can change; check the relevant provider before acting.
Network notes are educational summaries of public documentation, not an endorsement of a network, token or service, and not investment advice. Read our editorial policy.