How to add the Polygon (Matic) network to MetaMask? Why is it cheaper?

Adding Polygon Network to MetaMask

1. Open MetaMask and click the network dropdown menu located at the top of the interface.

2. Select “Add Network” from the list, then choose “Add a network manually”.

3. Enter the following configuration details:Network Name: Polygon MainnetNew RPC URL: https://polygon-rpc.com/Chain ID: 137Currency Symbol: MATICBlock Explorer URL: https://polygonscan.com/

4. Click “Save” to confirm the addition. The network will appear in the dropdown menu immediately.

5. Ensure your wallet address is compatible with Polygon by verifying that your Ethereum address remains unchanged—Polygon uses the same address format as Ethereum.

Why Transaction Fees on Polygon Are Lower

1. Polygon employs a layered architecture where the main Ethereum chain handles security while off-chain computation and state transitions occur on its own framework.

2. It uses Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus, eliminating energy-intensive mining and reducing computational overhead per transaction.

3. Batched transactions are processed in parallel through sidechains and plasma chains before final settlement on Ethereum, drastically cutting per-operation costs.

4. Gas pricing is not tied to Ethereum’s volatile fee market; instead, MATIC token supply and validator staking dynamics stabilize base fees.

5. Each block on Polygon supports significantly higher throughput than Ethereum’s mainnet—over 65,000 TPS compared to ~15–30 TPS—enabling micro-fee economics.

Verifying Polygon Integration Success

1. After adding the network, switch to “Polygon Mainnet” in the MetaMask network selector.

2. Check your account balance—if you hold MATIC tokens, they should appear automatically without requiring manual token addition.

3. Visit https://polygonscan.com/address/YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS and confirm recent activity or token holdings match what appears in MetaMask.

4. Initiate a small test transaction, such as sending 0.01 MATIC to another address, and verify confirmation within seconds on Polygonscan.

5. Observe gas estimates displayed in MetaMask—they should show values in gwei far below typical Ethereum mainnet levels, often under 50 gwei.

Common Issues During Setup

1. Incorrect RPC URL entry leads to “Network not found” errors—always use https://polygon-rpc.com/ without trailing slashes or typos.

2. Chain ID mismatch causes signature failures; double-check that Chain ID is set to 137, not 80001 (which is for Mumbai testnet).

3. Missing MATIC balance after network switch may indicate unclaimed tokens—users must bridge assets from Ethereum via official tools like the Polygon Bridge.

4. Slow transaction confirmations sometimes stem from selecting outdated RPC endpoints—avoid community-maintained or deprecated URLs.

5. MetaMask mobile app users might face syncing delays; force-closing and reopening the app resolves most temporary display inconsistencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use the same seed phrase for Polygon and Ethereum?A: Yes. Polygon is EVM-compatible and derives addresses identically to Ethereum, so your recovery phrase grants access to both networks.

Q: Do I need ETH on Polygon to pay for gas?A: No. All gas fees on Polygon are paid exclusively in MATIC, not ETH.

Q: Is it safe to add custom RPCs like Polygon’s?A: Yes, provided you use only verified endpoints published by official Polygon documentation or trusted blockchain infrastructure providers.

Q: Why does MetaMask show zero MATIC even after bridging?A: This usually occurs if the bridge transaction hasn’t been fully confirmed on Polygon or if the user selected the wrong network during the bridging process.