ARB vs MATIC: Arbitrum vs Polygon (POL) — 2026 Comparison
This page compares Arbitrum (ARB) and Polygon (POL) (MATIC) using the DeFi Intel research dataset. Governance token of the Arbitrum DAO, which controls the Arbitrum One and Nova Ethereum L2 rollups. Airdropped in March 2023 with an initial 10 billion supply. ARB holders vote on treasury spending, protocol upgrades, and the Security Council. Native asset of the Polygon PoS sidechain and broader Polygon ecosystem. Used for fees and staking. Being migrated to POL as part of Polygon 2.0. As of the last data review, ARB ranks #26 by approximate market capitalisation (≈$3.4B) and MATIC ranks #17 (≈$8B).
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Arbitrum (ARB) | Polygon (POL) (MATIC) |
|---|---|---|
| Market-cap rank | #26 | #17 |
| Approx market cap (USD) | $3.4B | $8B |
| Category | Layer 2 | Layer 2 |
| Chain(s) | Arbitrum | Polygon PoS, Polygon zkEVM |
| Token standard | ERC-20 | ERC-20 |
| Launched | March 2023 | April 2019 |
| Issuer | Offchain Labs | Polygon Labs |
| Issuer type | DAO-governed | Decentralized (no single issuer) |
| Total supply | 10,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000 |
| Circulating supply | 4,500,000,000 | 9,800,000,000 |
| Max supply | 10,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000 |
Arbitrum (ARB) in brief
- Governance token of the Arbitrum DAO, which controls the Arbitrum One and Nova Ethereum L2 rollups. Airdropped in March 2023 with an initial 10 billion supply. ARB holders vote on treasury spending, protocol upgrades, and the Security Council.
- Launched March 2023.
- ERC-20 token; trades on Arbitrum.
- Max supply: 10,000,000,000.
- Issuer: Offchain Labs.
Full profile: Arbitrum (ARB) token page.
Polygon (POL) (MATIC) in brief
- Native asset of the Polygon PoS sidechain and broader Polygon ecosystem. Used for fees and staking. Being migrated to POL as part of Polygon 2.0.
- Launched April 2019.
- ERC-20 token; trades on Polygon PoS, Polygon zkEVM.
- Max supply: 10,000,000,000.
- Issuer: Polygon Labs.
Full profile: Polygon (POL) (MATIC) token page.
Key differences (data view)
- MATIC is the larger asset by market capitalisation: rank #17 (≈$8B) versus rank #26 (≈$3.4B) for ARB.
- MATIC is the older asset — launched in 2019, 4 years before ARB (2023).
- They live on different chains — ARB: Arbitrum; MATIC: Polygon PoS, Polygon zkEVM.
- Both are classified as Layer 2 assets in the DeFi Intel dataset.
- ARB is governed by a DAO (Offchain Labs), whereas MATIC has no central issuer.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, ARB or MATIC?
Polygon (POL) (MATIC) is larger by market capitalisation: approximately $8B (rank #17) versus $3.4B (rank #26) for ARB, as of the last DeFi Intel data review.
When did Arbitrum and Polygon (POL) launch?
Arbitrum launched in March 2023; Polygon (POL) launched in April 2019.
Are ARB and MATIC on the same chain?
No. ARB is on Arbitrum, while MATIC is on Polygon PoS, Polygon zkEVM.
Related comparisons
- ARB vs OP
- MATIC vs OP
- Arbitrum (ARB) token profile
- Polygon (POL) (MATIC) token profile
- All DeFi Intel comparisons →
Methodology & sources
Every figure on this page is drawn from the DeFi Intel token research dataset — the same data that powers the ARB and MATIC token profiles. Market capitalisations and supply figures are approximate snapshots from the last dataset review, not live quotes. DeFi Intel publishes editorial research, not financial advice.