# Relationship between Ethereum Mainnet and Polygon By [DEFED](https://paragraph.com/@defedcommunity) ยท 2023-05-08 --- ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d406a71e7a80b464804ce1089aacb90998748eb81253b94a058ce39cac80fc68.png) Ethereum is one of the most popular smart contract platforms that allows developers to build and deploy blockchain-based applications (DApps). However, as the Ethereum network developed, some problems arose such as high transaction fees and slow transaction confirmation times. These issues limit the availability and scalability of Ethereum in practical applications. To solve these problems, the Ethereum community has developed multiple scaling solutions, with Polygon (formerly known as Matic Network) being the most popular. Polygon is an Ethereum scaling solution (as Layer2), designed to provide a fast, cheap, and scalable platform for transactions and smart contracts. With the help of various cross-chain bridge protocols, the Polygon network can interoperate with the Ethereum network, and in most cases, transferring from the Ethereum Mainnet to the Polygon network is easy and fast. This interoperability makes Polygon an important part of the Ethereum ecosystem. Interoperability between the Polygon network and the Ethereum network can also be further enhanced through various bridging protocols. These bridging protocols allow users to transfer assets from one network to another and interact between the two networks. This bridging protocol enables multi-chain interoperability, thus improving the availability and interoperability of the entire cryptocurrency ecosystem. When users transfer Ethereum tokens (such as USDT-Ethereum) to the Polygon network, they are locked on the Ethereum Mainnet, and the corresponding Polygon tokens (such as USDT-Polygon) are issued on the Polygon network. This process is achieved through bridging protocols such as Polygon's PoS Bridge and HOPR Bridge. Therefore, in most cases, assets that are bridged to the Polygon network are considered to have the same value as assets on the Ethereum Mainnet. Why are Ethereum and Polygon network accounts interoperable? ------------------------------------------------------------ Ethereum network accounts can be used on the Polygon network because the Polygon network shares the same account and address structure as the Ethereum Mainnet. In the Ethereum network, each account has a unique address and private key, which can be used to send and receive Ethereum tokens and execute smart contracts. In the Polygon network, these addresses and private keys can also be used to send and receive Polygon tokens (such as MATIC) and execute smart contracts. Conclusion ---------- The Ethereum Mainnet and Polygon network are closely related networks that can cooperate with each other, improving the availability, security, and scalability of the entire Ethereum ecosystem. The Polygon network provides a scalable, affordable platform for transactions and smart contracts, making it an essential part of the Ethereum ecosystem. --- *Originally published on [DEFED](https://paragraph.com/@defedcommunity/relationship-between-ethereum-mainnet-and-polygon)*