In the vast and rapidly evolving world of blockchain, few names have left as deep and transformative a mark as Sandeep Nailwal. From a humble upbringing in the heart of India to becoming one of the world’s most influential blockchain pioneers, his story is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the unrelenting pursuit of impact.
As the co-founder and CEO of Polygon Foundation, Sandeep has not only shaped one of the most successful blockchain ecosystems in history but has also inspired millions across the globe to dream beyond boundaries.
Sandeep Nailwal: A Humble Beginning and the Rise of a Visionary
Born in a small village in Uttarakhand and raised in modest conditions in Delhi, Sandeep Nailwal’s journey is the quintessential story of grit and determination. Financial constraints never dimmed his hunger for knowledge. Driven by a fascination for technology and problem-solving, he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, followed by an MBA in Finance and Supply Chain Management from the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai—one of India’s premier management institutes.
His educational journey laid the foundation for what would later become his defining strength: bridging the gap between technology and business strategy.
The Early Professional Years: Learning from the Ground Up
Before his name became synonymous with blockchain innovation, Sandeep Nailwal walked a conventional corporate path. He began his career as a software developer at Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) in 2010, where he honed his programming and analytical skills. Later, his time as a consultant at Deloitte gave him exposure to large-scale business operations, project management, and the intricacies of corporate problem-solving.
In 2015, he became the Head of Technology and Supply Chain at Welspun Group, one of Asia’s largest textile companies. His work there deepened his understanding of global operations and technology-driven optimization. But even amid corporate success, Sandeep felt a deep urge to create something of his own—something that could impact millions.
Sandeep Nailwal: Entrepreneurial Spark: The Birth of ScopeWeaver
That desire gave rise to ScopeWeaver.com in 2015—India’s largest online marketplace for professional services. At ScopeWeaver, Sandeep experimented with blockchain-based decentralized applications to create transparent, secure, and efficient systems for professional engagement. It was during this period that he first encountered the immense potential of blockchain technology.
This encounter ignited a passion that would change the course of his life—and, soon, the course of blockchain innovation itself.
The Polygon Revolution: A Global Vision Born in India
In late 2017, Sandeep Nailwal, along with Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun, founded Matic Network, a project designed to solve one of blockchain’s biggest challenges—Ethereum’s scalability problem. High gas fees, slow transactions, and poor user experience were hindering mass adoption, and the trio was determined to fix it.
Matic Network evolved rapidly and, in 2021, rebranded to Polygon, symbolizing a broader vision: to become a multi-chain ecosystem that connects and scales the entire Ethereum network. Polygon soon became one of the most vital layers of the Web3 ecosystem, empowering developers to build fast, affordable, and secure decentralized applications.
Under Sandeep’s leadership, Polygon has built partnerships with global giants like Instagram, Reddit, Starbucks, and Nike, proving that blockchain can power real-world use cases for millions of users.
Leading the Polygon Foundation: A New Era of Innovation
In June 2025, Sandeep Nailwal was appointed as the CEO of the Polygon Foundation, taking full leadership to guide its next phase of growth. His vision focuses on scalability, interoperability, and decentralization, with a strong emphasis on zero-knowledge (ZK) technology—considered the future of blockchain scalability and privacy.
Through initiatives like the Polygon Aggregation Layer (AggLayer), Sandeep aims to unify disparate blockchain ecosystems into one cohesive network, creating what he calls an “Internet of Blockchains.”
Today, Polygon’s ecosystem supports thousands of decentralized apps (dApps) and is home to millions of users, driving billions of dollars in transaction volume. This exponential growth is a reflection of Sandeep’s strategic foresight and relentless drive to bring crypto to the masses—a mission he calls his life’s purpose.
Beyond Blockchain: Investments, Innovation, and AI
Sandeep Nailwal’s ambitions extend far beyond Polygon. He is the co-founder of Symbolic Capital, a venture capital firm established in 2022 that focuses on investing in promising Web3 startups—particularly those emerging from developing nations. Symbolic Capital raised $50 million in its initial fund, supporting over 30 blockchain and technology startups across the globe.
Recently, Sandeep also entered the artificial intelligence frontier with his latest venture, Sentient, an AI startup designed to merge the power of blockchain and machine intelligence to shape the future of digital autonomy and security.
Philanthropy and Purpose: Building Impact Beyond Wealth
When the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged India in 2021, Sandeep Nailwal turned his entrepreneurial spirit toward humanitarian service. He founded the Crypto Relief Fund, an initiative that raised over $470 million in cryptocurrency donations to support India’s healthcare efforts. The fund drew support from the global crypto community, including Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin, and became one of the largest crypto-based philanthropic efforts in history.
Building on this, Sandeep launched Blockchain for Impact (BFI)—a platform that uses blockchain transparency to fund biomedical research, healthcare innovations, and social development projects. His commitment to using technology for social good has earned him widespread admiration, reinforcing his belief that true success lies in creating positive, lasting change.
Global Leadership and the Future Ahead
Today, based in Dubai, Sandeep Nailwal leads a distributed team of more than 400 professionals spread across India, the UAE, the US, and Europe. His leadership is marked by a blend of vision, humility, and inclusiveness. He often describes himself not as a CEO, but as a student of technology and human behavior, constantly learning and adapting to the fast-paced evolution of the digital world.
His mission remains clear and unwavering: to make blockchain technology accessible, scalable, and transformative for everyone. As he once said,
“Mass adoption of crypto is not a dream—it’s a responsibility. It’s about empowering billions to own their data, identity, and economic future.”