Katana vs Polygon: How the Two Networks Are Related
Katana and Polygon are two separate networks: Katana is a DeFi-focused Ethereum Layer-2 that was incubated by Polygon Labs and GSR, while Polygon PoS is Polygon’s own long-running chain. They are linked through Agglayer, the interoperability layer built by Polygon Labs, which Katana uses as its canonical bridge. So Katana is part of the wider Polygon ecosystem, but it is not “on Polygon”, it does not use POL for gas, and KAT is not a Polygon token.
Key takeaways
- Katana was announced on May 28, 2025 by the Katana Foundation and was incubated by Polygon Labs and the market maker GSR.
- Katana is its own chain (chain ID 747474) and uses ETH for gas. Polygon PoS is chain ID 137 and uses POL for gas.
- The two connect through Agglayer. Polygon Labs describes Katana as the first Agglayer CDK chain to use the CDK OP Stack.
- About 15% of the KAT supply was set aside for POL stakers on Ethereum, which is the most direct financial link between the two.
- You can move funds from Polygon to Katana in the Katana app, which lists Polygon as a source network.
Is Katana part of Polygon?
Partly, and the wording matters. Katana is run by the Katana Foundation, a separate non-profit. Polygon Labs helped incubate it alongside GSR, and the infrastructure company Conduit supported the deployment. That makes Katana a Polygon-backed project, not a Polygon product.
Technically, Katana settles to Ethereum, not to Polygon PoS. It was built on a custom version of the OP Stack called cdk-opgeth, and L2BEAT describes it as combining an OP Stack base with Agglayer’s shared bridge and SP1 validity proofs. If you are new to the chain, our guide to what Katana Network is covers the basics, including the RPC and explorer details.
Katana vs Polygon PoS at a glance
| Feature | Katana | Polygon PoS |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ethereum Layer-2 focused on DeFi | General-purpose EVM chain |
| Chain ID | 747474 | 137 |
| Gas token | ETH | POL |
| Native token | KAT | POL |
| Public mainnet | July 1, 2025 | 2020 |
| Secured by | Settles to Ethereum with validity proofs | Validators staking POL |
| Connection | Both connect to Agglayer | |
The practical effect is simple. An address works on both chains because both are EVM networks, but your balances are separate. POL in your Polygon wallet does not pay for transactions on Katana, and KAT does nothing on Polygon PoS.
What is Agglayer and why does it link Katana and Polygon?
Agglayer is an interoperability layer built by Polygon Labs. Its job is to connect many separate chains so assets can move between them through a shared bridge. Polygon’s own announcement says Katana “uses Agglayer as the canonical bridge and VaultBridge for generating real yield”.
That same announcement explains why Polygon wanted a chain like Katana. New chains that join Agglayer usually start with thin liquidity. Katana is designed as a liquidity hub, so other Agglayer chains can tap into its pools from day one. The yield side of that design is explained in our VaultBridge and AUSD guide.
Do POL holders get anything from Katana?
POL stakers did. When Katana was announced, Polygon stated that about 15% of KAT tokens would go to POL stakers on Ethereum, including people using liquid staking protocols. With a total supply of 10 billion KAT, that is roughly 1.5 billion tokens.
This was tied to staking POL, not simply holding it in a wallet or on an exchange. For the eligibility rules and what happened after the token went live, see our page on who qualified for the KAT airdrop. The wider supply picture is in the KAT tokenomics breakdown.
Is KAT a Polygon token? Can I use POL on Katana?
No to both. KAT is the native token of Katana and lives on the Katana network. POL is the gas and staking token for Polygon. Gas on Katana is paid in ETH, so you need a small ETH balance on Katana before you can do anything there.
If you want to buy the token, it trades on centralized exchanges as well as on Katana itself. Our how to buy KAT guide lists the current markets.
How do I move funds from Polygon to Katana?
Use the Bridge tab in the official Katana app at app.katana.network. When we checked the app in October 2026, Polygon was listed as a source network next to Ethereum, Arbitrum One, Base and OP Mainnet.
- Open app.katana.network and click Bridge.
- Connect your wallet.
- Choose Polygon as the From network and pick the token you hold there.
- Choose the token you want to receive on Katana and check the amount shown.
- Confirm in your wallet. You pay the Polygon side of the gas in POL.
The full walkthrough, including the other official routes and safety checks, is in our Katana bridge guide.
Katana or Polygon: which one should I use?
They solve different problems, so many people use both.
- Use Katana if your goal is DeFi yield. The chain launched with a small set of core apps, including Morpho for lending and Sushi for trading, and The Block reported more than $240 million in deposits within three weeks of its pre-deposit phase.
- Use Polygon PoS if you want a broad, established chain with a large range of apps, games and payments, and low fees paid in POL.
Neither choice locks you in. Because both connect to Agglayer and the Katana app bridges from Polygon, moving funds between them takes a few clicks.
Common mix-ups to avoid
- Adding Katana to your wallet with Polygon’s chain ID. Katana is 747474.
- Arriving on Katana with POL and no ETH, then being unable to pay gas.
- Assuming holding POL on an exchange earned KAT. The allocation was for POL stakers.
- Confusing Katana Network with unrelated projects that share the name, such as Katana Inu or older Solana-era products. See Is Katana on Solana?
- Trusting sites that describe Katana as a Polygon gaming chain. It is a DeFi chain.
Frequently asked questions
Is Katana built on Polygon?
No. Katana is an Ethereum Layer-2 that settles to Ethereum. It was incubated by Polygon Labs and GSR and connects to Polygon’s Agglayer, but it is not built on Polygon PoS.
Who created Katana?
Katana is led by the Katana Foundation, a non-profit. It was incubated by Polygon Labs and the market maker GSR and announced on May 28, 2025.
Does Katana use POL for gas?
No. Gas on Katana is paid in ETH. POL is the gas token on Polygon PoS.
Did POL stakers get a KAT airdrop?
Yes. Polygon stated that about 15% of KAT tokens would go to POL stakers on Ethereum, including liquid staking protocols.
Can I bridge from Polygon to Katana?
Yes. The Bridge tab in the Katana app lists Polygon as a source network.
What is the Katana chain ID?
Katana’s chain ID is 747474. Polygon PoS uses chain ID 137.
