Polygon (formerly Matic Network) is one of Ethereum's most successful sidechains, known for extremely low gas fees and fast transaction confirmations. Many Ethereum DApps have been deployed on Polygon, including Uniswap, Aave, and Curve. Adding Polygon to MetaMask lets you enjoy a low-cost on-chain experience.
Why Add Polygon to MetaMask?
Polygon's core advantages make it ideal for everyday DeFi operations:
- Extremely low gas fees: Standard transaction fees under 1 cent, complex operations just a few cents
- Fast confirmations: Block time of about 2 seconds for near-instant transactions
- Ethereum compatible: EVM-compatible, same MetaMask address works on Polygon
- Rich DApp ecosystem: Uniswap, Aave, Curve, QuickSwap, and many more
- Strong stablecoin liquidity: USDT/USDC are widely used on Polygon
- Direct exchange support: Binance, OKX, and other exchanges support direct withdrawal to Polygon
How to Manually Add the Polygon Network?
Step 1: Open Network Settings
- Click the network dropdown at the top of MetaMask
- Click "Add Network"
- Select "Add a network manually"
Step 2: Enter Polygon Network Parameters
- Network Name: Polygon Mainnet
- RPC URL:
https://polygon-rpc.com - Chain ID: 137
- Currency Symbol: MATIC (Note: Polygon is migrating to the POL token)
- Block Explorer URL:
https://polygonscan.com
Step 3: Save and Switch
Click "Save." MetaMask automatically switches to the Polygon network, showing "Polygon Mainnet" at the top with MATIC as the native token.
How to Add Polygon via Chainlist?
- Open chainlist.org in your browser
- Search for "Polygon"
- Find "Polygon Mainnet" (Chain ID: 137)
- Click "Connect Wallet" to connect MetaMask
- Click "Add to MetaMask"
- Approve in the MetaMask popup
- Then click "Switch network"
Adding via MetaMask's Built-in List
Newer versions of MetaMask have Polygon pre-loaded:
- Click the network dropdown
- Click "Add Network"
- Find "Polygon Mainnet" in the recommended networks list
- Click "Add"
- Done
Backup RPC Nodes for Polygon
If the default RPC is unstable, try these alternatives:
https://rpc-mainnet.matic.quiknode.prohttps://rpc.ankr.com/polygonhttps://polygon.llamarpc.comhttps://polygon-mainnet.public.blastapi.io
To change: MetaMask Settings > Networks > Polygon Mainnet > Edit RPC URL.
How to Get MATIC for Gas Fees on Polygon?
You need MATIC to pay gas fees on Polygon. Here's how to get it:
Method 1: Withdraw Directly from an Exchange
- Purchase MATIC in the Binance App (iOS users refer to the iOS installation guide)
- Select withdrawal
- Paste your MetaMask Polygon address
- Select "Polygon" as the network
- Confirm the withdrawal
This is the simplest and most direct method.
Method 2: Cross-chain Bridge
- Visit wallet.polygon.technology (Polygon's official bridge)
- Connect MetaMask
- Select transfer from Ethereum to Polygon
- Choose ETH or MATIC
- Confirm the cross-chain transaction
Note: Bridging from Ethereum to Polygon requires paying Ethereum gas fees.
Method 3: Polygon Faucet
For testing purposes, Polygon provides testnet faucets for test MATIC. Mainnet MATIC must be purchased or bridged.
Recommended DApps on Polygon
DeFi
- QuickSwap: Polygon-native DEX
- Uniswap V3: Deployed on Polygon
- Aave V3: Polygon is one of Aave's most active networks
- Curve Finance: Stablecoin swaps
- Balancer: Liquidity protocol
NFTs
- OpenSea: Supports Polygon NFT trading
- Zora: NFT minting and trading
Others
- Lens Protocol: Decentralized social
- Polymarket: Prediction market
How to Bridge Between Polygon and Ethereum?
Ethereum to Polygon
- Use Polygon Bridge (wallet.polygon.technology)
- Connect MetaMask (Ethereum network)
- Select the token and amount to bridge
- Confirm the transaction
- Wait approximately 10-30 minutes
- Switch to Polygon network in MetaMask to see your assets
Polygon to Ethereum
- Use the same Polygon Bridge
- Select "Withdraw"
- Withdraw from Polygon to Ethereum
- Note: Polygon-to-Ethereum withdrawals may require longer confirmation times
Safety Tips
When operating on the Polygon network, keep these safety points in mind:
- Confirm the withdrawal network: Always select Polygon when withdrawing MATIC from an exchange — wrong network selection may cause asset loss
- Keep enough MATIC: Ensure you have sufficient MATIC for gas fees
- Watch out for scam tokens: Polygon also has scam tokens and malicious contracts
- Verify DApp URLs: Confirm the website address before using any DApp
- Manage contract approvals: Same as on Ethereum, manage token approvals carefully
- Distinguish Polygon from Polygon zkEVM: They are different networks with different chain IDs (137 vs. 1101)
Will my Ethereum assets disappear after adding Polygon?
Of course not. Adding the Polygon network doesn't affect any Ethereum assets. Assets on the two networks are completely independent — switching networks only changes the display.
Is USDT on Polygon the same as USDT on Ethereum?
Same value but on different chains. The USDT contract address on Polygon differs from Ethereum, and they can't directly interoperate — you need a cross-chain bridge to transfer between them.
How much are gas fees on Polygon?
Polygon gas fees are extremely low. A simple MATIC transfer costs about $0.001-0.01, swap trades about $0.01-0.1. Even during network congestion, fees rarely exceed $0.1.
What's the relationship between MATIC and POL?
Polygon is undergoing a token upgrade, migrating MATIC to POL. POL will become Polygon's new native token for gas fees and staking. The migration between the two is handled automatically by smart contracts.
What if MetaMask can't connect to Polygon?
First check your internet connection. If the network is fine but the RPC fails, try a backup RPC node. Also verify the chain ID is correct (137). Restarting your browser or re-adding the network usually resolves the issue.