← Back to Networks archive
Major Networks
What Is Polygon?
A practical guide to Polygon, low-fee transactions, wallet setup, gas tokens, explorers, and cross-chain mistakes.
Network map
What this means
Polygon is an EVM-compatible network commonly used for lower-cost transactions, gaming, NFTs, DeFi apps, and token transfers.
Core ideas
What to understand first
- Polygon is EVM-compatible.
- Polygon has its own network state separate from Ethereum.
- Users need the correct native gas token for Polygon transactions.
- Polygon assets may have different contract addresses than Ethereum versions.
User checklist
What to check before moving assets
- Switch your wallet to Polygon before interacting with Polygon apps.
- Use a trusted Polygon explorer.
- Confirm token contracts on Polygon specifically.
- Check exchange withdrawal network carefully.
Risk note
Common mistakes to avoid
- Wrong-network withdrawals are common.
- Copied token names can mislead users.
- Cheap transactions can make users approve risky contracts too quickly.