The Evolution of Polygon: Redefining Its Role in the World of Stablecoin Payments

Polygon Labs is making a major change in the cryptocurrency industry by acquiring two key companies. In a deal worth over $250 million, the network is acquiring Coinme and Sequence to strengthen its role as a platform for stablecoin-based payments. This move is not just a business transaction but a clear statement of how Polygon wants to act and evolve in the next phase of digital finance.

The Two Game-Changing Acquisitions

The first company acquired is Coinme, a former pioneer in the Bitcoin ATM kiosk industry in the United States. Acquiring this company brings regulated fiat on-ramp and off-ramp services directly into the Polygon ecosystem. This means that people will find it easier to convert regular money into cryptocurrency and back, using Polygon’s blockchain infrastructure.

The second acquisition is Sequence, a provider of smart wallet technology and cross-chain infrastructure. This technology is designed to make cryptocurrency payments across multiple blockchains simple, without users having to worry about bridging, token swaps, or technical fees. The combination of these two businesses creates a complete ecosystem for onchain payments that is more accessible and user-friendly.

Redefining Polygon’s Role and Function

These steps are part of Polygon’s larger strategy to shift its role from a generic blockchain platform to a specialized payment infrastructure provider. The company states that their new Open Money Stack, expected to launch in 2026, will be an integrated solution for stablecoin-based transactions that move seamlessly between traditional financial systems and onchain rails.

According to Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon Labs, this shift is the result of a long-term strategy started last year. “This is just one of the payment-focused changes we began over a year ago and continue to develop,” he said in an interview. This message shows that Polygon is serious about building a comprehensive payment solution, not just a temporary initiative.

The Bigger Trend: From General-Purpose to Specialized Services

Polygon’s transformation reflects a broader movement in the crypto industry. Many blockchain projects and companies are positioning themselves as modern neobanks, offering payment services, asset custody, and regulatory compliance similar to traditional digital banks but operating on blockchain technology. This trend indicates that the industry is beginning to mature and focus on real financial use cases rather than speculative asset trading.

Why Multi-Chain Is the Future of Stablecoin Payments

The Open Money Stack is designed to operate across multiple blockchains instead of being confined to a single network. This decision is strategic because large volumes of payments cannot be supported by just one blockchain. As Boiron explained, “We expect to see many chains for payments. The volume is still small, so multiple chains will always be needed.”

The infrastructure built by Polygon through Coinme and Sequence addresses one of the main barriers to cryptocurrency payment adoption among consumers and enterprises: technical complexity. By removing concerns about bridging, gas fees, and token conversions, Polygon expects more businesses and users to embrace onchain payments.

The Integrated Platform Approach

Although Coinme and Sequence will operate as separate entities from an operational and regulatory perspective, Polygon plans to present them as a unified payment platform to customers. This strategic positioning allows Polygon to provide an end-to-end solution while maintaining regulatory flexibility for each subsidiary.

This transformation demonstrates how Polygon is redefining its role within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. It is not just a scaling solution for Ethereum — it is becoming a comprehensive infrastructure provider for the future of stablecoin-based digital payments and cross-border money movement.