Polygon vs Starknet
Polygon (POL) and Starknet (STRK) both sit in the layer 2 category, so they compete for the same slot in a portfolio. Polygon launched in 2019, 5 years before Starknet. Polygon uses Proof of Stake and Starknet uses Rollup ZK sobre Ethereum. This page compares what can actually be verified about each protocol — nobody can tell you which will be worth more, and this page does not try to.
Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile asset class without the protections of regulated funds: you can lose your entire investment. This comparison is educational content about the technical characteristics of two protocols, not a buy recommendation or a price forecast.
Head to head
Verifiable data for each protocol. Price and performance are deliberately left out: they change daily and cannot be derived from technical specs.
| Polygon | Starknet | |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | POL | STRK |
| Launched | 2019 | 2024 |
| Consensus | Proof of Stake | Rollup ZK sobre Ethereum |
| Max supply | ~10.000M | 10.000M |
| Category | Layer 2 | Layer 2 |
This table does not say which one is "better". It says how they differ, which is the only thing that can be stated without guessing.
Polygon
POLEthereum's longest-standing scaling ecosystem (formerly MATIC), used by big brands for payments and NFTs.
Starknet
STRKA layer 2 based on zero-knowledge proofs (STARKs), cutting-edge scaling technology.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Polygon and Starknet?+
Polygon (POL) launched in 2019, uses Proof of Stake and has a maximum supply of ~10.000M. Starknet (STRK) launched in 2024, uses Rollup ZK sobre Ethereum and has a maximum supply of 10.000M. Beyond the numbers, they were built for different purposes — see the description of each below.
Which one will be worth more?+
Nobody knows, and anyone telling you otherwise is guessing. Crypto prices depend on adoption, regulation, liquidity and sentiment, none of which can be forecast from a protocol's specs. This page deliberately compares only what is verifiable today.
Which has the scarcer supply?+
Both have a hard cap: ~10.000M for Polygon and 10.000M for Starknet. A cap limits future issuance, but it says nothing about demand — and demand is what sets the price.
Do they use the same technology?+
No: Polygon uses Proof of Stake and Starknet uses Rollup ZK sobre Ethereum. The consensus mechanism affects energy use, how the network is secured and how new coins enter circulation.
Should I hold both?+
That is a question about your risk tolerance, not about these two protocols. Crypto is a volatile asset class where you can lose your entire investment, and holding two coins in the same category adds far less diversification than it looks — they tend to move together. This is educational content, not a recommendation.