Sandeep Nailwal is a popular name in the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency. He is best known as the Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Polygon (formerly called Matic Network), which is a global Web3 infrastructure for Ethereum scaling solutions. His journey from a small-town upbringing in India to becoming a blockchain entrepreneur who is globally recognized is an inspiring one.
Hailing from Delhi, Nailwal has had a major role in making blockchain technology more accessible and efficient. At Polygon, Nailwal worked to promote the wide adoption of Web3 technologies. This made it possible for developers and businesses to build decentralized applications (dApps) without the limitations of the traditional blockchain system.
Early Life Of Sandeep Nailwal
Sandeep Nailwal was born and raised in a modest household of a peasant farmer family in Ramnagar, India. Later, he moved to Delhi’s Jaamna Paar. He pursued a degree in engineering and earned a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Computer Science. Early on, he showed an interest in software development and technology.
He also majored in Computer Science and earned an MBA from the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (Nitie), Mumbai, which is one of the top schools in India. This made him well-versed in the nuances of both technology and business.
Career
Before moving into blockchain, Nailwal had gained experience in various industries. He worked as the lead of the technology department at Welspun, which is one of the largest textile companies in Asia. Sandeep has also worked as a consultant at Deloitte, another prominent organization. These experiences helped to develop his skills in areas such as software engineering, supply chain management, and operations. With this background in tech, in 2015, Sandeep launched his own company, ScopeWeaver. It was India’s one of the biggest marketplaces for professional services. It was during this time that Nailwal was introduced to blockchain technology.
Once he stepped into the world of web3, there was no going back. He realized the incredible power of blockchain along with its major limitations related to scalability, speed, and cost. He then set on a path to solve these challenges.
Inception Of Polygon
Two years later, in 2017, Nailwal, along with co-founders Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun, launched Matic Network. It was later rebranded as Polygon. The goal was to create a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum to tackle the inefficiencies of the network, such as slow transaction speeds and high gas fees.
Polygon uses sidechains and other advanced technologies to process transactions on the main Ethereum chain and thus improve speed and reduce costs. This has made it easier for developers to build and scale decentralized applications like DeFi platforms, gaming, and NFT projects. Polygon grew massively under Nailwal’s leadership.
They attracted partnerships with major companies like Disney, Meta, and Reddit. The network became a hub for Web3 development and hosts thousands of dApps while processing millions of transactions daily.
At Polygon, Nailwal continues to focus on improving scalability and interoperability between blockchains. Polygon has been featured in many lists of top blockchain projects.
Philanthropy
Beyond blockchain development, Sandeep Nailwal is also actively involved in philanthropy. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, when India faced a devastating health crisis, Nailwal stepped forward. He put forth a healing campaign for India and created the Crypto Relief Fund, an initiative working to provide essential medical supplies and support to those in distress.
The cryptocurrency community’s efforts together raised over $475 million, mainly through donations in cryptocurrency from individuals and organizations across the world. This effort showed the real-world impact of blockchain technology in helping transparent charitable work. This whole initiative highlighted the humanitarian potential of crypto.
Final Thoughts:
Sandeep Nailwal’s work has earned him recognition as one of the most influential figures in the blockchain space. His rags-to-riches story, a journey from a small-town upbringing in India to co-founding one of the most widely used blockchain networks in the world, indicates his vision, determination, and innovative thinking.
We all could benefit from taking a leaf from his life, and understanding the transformative power of relentless learning and acting upon your interests and curiosity can benefit you in the long run, no matter your current situation. Nailwal is also a strong advocate for blockchain adoption, especially in emerging markets in India.
