Blockchain Infrastructure

What is the difference between Polygon and Ethereum?

Ethereum is a base-layer blockchain that settles transactions and runs smart contracts, while Polygon is a separate, faster network built to scale Ethereum activity at lower cost. Ethereum prioritizes security and decentralization, which historically meant higher fees during congestion. Polygon processes transactions on its own chain and connects back to Ethereum, so a token swap that might cost several dollars on Ethereum can cost a fraction of a cent on Polygon. Polygon is EVM-compatible, meaning Ethereum applications can run on it with little change, though it makes its own security trade-offs.