Polygon is showing a side of growth that usually appears before price stories fully catch up. Network usage has climbed to record levels, fees have surged, and a large amount of POL has been burned in the process. Price has responded quietly, pushing POL back into a zone that has mattered for months. That mix of onchain strength and technical positioning is what makes the current moment important.
Polygon has been handling activity at levels never seen before. During a recent stretch of all-time high usage, the network generated more than 13,600,000 POL in fees, representing a 7.2X increase. Token burns also jumped sharply, with over 12,500,000 POL removed from circulation, marking a 10X rise.
This kind of fee and burn activity points to genuine demand across the network. High usage often puts pressure on gas costs, yet Polygon responded quickly by rolling out the Dandeli hardfork once gas prices climbed. That response matters because it shows the network adapting to growth rather than being overwhelmed by it.
Dandeli Hardfork Changes Are Helping Polygon Stay Economical
The Dandeli upgrade focused on improving capacity and fee predictability. Block capacity increased by roughly 30%, while the gas target shifted to 65% from 50%. Throughput can now scale higher when demand is present, currently reaching around 20 mgas per second.
Polygon usage is going through the roof.
— Polygon | POL (@0xPolygon) January 9, 2026
During a period of ATH usage, the network generated 13,600,000+ POL in fees (up 7.2X) and burned 12,500,000+ POL (up 10X).
Following this period of ATH usage and heightened gas prices, the Dandeli hardfork has successfully stabilized gas…
More predictable gas behavior is essential during periods of heavy demand. Stable fees encourage users to stay active and give developers confidence to keep building. Planned future upgrades aim to make gas limits and targets dynamic so fees stay balanced for users while still allowing the chain to earn sustainable revenue. The Gigagas roadmap is already in motion and signals a long term push to support large-scale usage.
Polygon price has been climbing steadily over recent days. POL price is up more than 70% over the last 10 days, bringing it back to a key area that has acted as a reference point since April 2025.
This same zone previously served as support before breaking down in November, when the broader crypto market turned bearish. Price now revisiting this level makes it a critical decision area. Markets often slow down here as buyers and sellers reassess direction after a strong move.
POL price currently trades around $0.17, placing it right in the middle of this long-standing zone.
POL Price Prediction Depends On How Price Reacts At Resistance
The next move largely depends on whether POL price can push through this resistance. A clean break above the current level could support further upside, opening the door toward $0.2 and potentially $0.3 if momentum continues to build.
Another possible outcome keeps POL price moving sideways for a short period. Consolidation near resistance often follows sharp rallies and does not automatically weaken the broader trend if selling pressure remains limited.
A pullback scenario also remains on the table. If bearish pressure returns, POL price could slip from the $0.17 area back toward $0.14 or lower. Such moves are common when price tests former support turned resistance after a rapid advance.
Read Also: Why Chainlink (LINK) Is Quietly Becoming More Important Than Ethereum And Bitcoin
Polygon is sitting at a point where strong network usage, recent protocol upgrades, and a critical price level are all intersecting. POL price is reacting to real onchain growth rather than empty momentum, which makes this zone especially interesting to watch.
How price behaves around this level, while usage data continues to expand, will likely shape the next chapter for Polygon. That interaction between network fundamentals and market structure is where the next signal usually emerges.
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