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How to Add Polygon to MetaMask: Presale Setup Guide

How to Add Polygon to MetaMask: Presale Setup Guide

Crypto Regulation & Policy Press Release Expert

Published 2026-05-13

Updated 2026-05-13

How to Add Polygon to MetaMask: Presale Setup Guide

Polygon (POL) is one of the most popular chains for crypto presales and IDOs, offering near-zero gas fees and EVM compatibility. Adding Polygon to MetaMask takes under 2 minutes using Chainlist — the most reliable method. Here is the complete step-by-step guide.

Method 1: Chainlist (Recommended — 30 Seconds)

Open MetaMask (ensure it's installed and unlocked)
Go to chainlist.org in your browser
Search "Polygon" in the search bar
Find "Polygon Mainnet" (Chain ID: 137)
Click "Add to MetaMask" — MetaMask will prompt confirmation
Click "Approve" in the MetaMask popup
Click "Switch network" to switch to Polygon immediately

Chainlist provides verified RPC endpoints — safer than manually typing URLs which can be mis-entered or spoofed.

Method 2: Manual Addition

Open MetaMask → click the network dropdown (top left) → "Add Network"
Enter these exact values:
- Network Name: Polygon Mainnet
- New RPC URL: https://polygon-rpc.com
- Chain ID: 137
- Currency Symbol: POL
- Block Explorer URL: https://polygonscan.com
Click "Save" → Polygon Mainnet added

Getting POL for Gas

You need a small amount of POL (Polygon's native token, formerly MATIC) for gas fees. Options:

CEX withdrawal: Withdraw POL from Binance, Coinbase, or OKX directly to your MetaMask Polygon address (select "Polygon" as network when withdrawing)
Bridge: Use the official Polygon Bridge (wallet.polygon.technology) to bridge ETH or USDC from Ethereum mainnet to Polygon
Faucet: Some platforms offer free POL to cover initial gas (tiny amounts)

Gas cost on Polygon: typically $0.001-$0.05 per transaction — a $1 POL balance covers hundreds of presale interactions.

Verifying Your Setup

Confirm Polygon is working: switch to Polygon Mainnet in MetaMask → go to Polygonscan.com → search your wallet address → you should see your address with "No Transactions" or your transaction history. Any Polygon presale you participate in should show transactions here.

For the broader Polygon IDO launchpad ecosystem you can now access, see our Polygon presale guide. For Polygon IDO launchpads specifically, see our Polygon IDO launchpads guide. For gas fee comparison between Polygon and other chains, see our IDO gas fees comparison guide.

Glossary

RPC URL: Remote Procedure Call URL — the API endpoint through which MetaMask communicates with the blockchain network to read data and submit transactions.
Chain ID: A unique identifier for each blockchain network — Polygon Mainnet is 137. Prevents transactions from one chain being replayed on another (replay protection).
Chainlist: A community-maintained directory of EVM network RPC endpoints (chainlist.org) — the safest and fastest way to add verified networks to MetaMask.

Disclaimer

Important: Always verify MetaMask extension downloads from metamask.io. Never enter your seed phrase into any website. This guide is educational only. CryptoPresaleNews.com is not a licensed financial advisor.

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Yara Fernandez Crypto Regulation & Policy Press Release Expert

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Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? We have answers!

How do I add Polygon to MetaMask?

Fastest method via Chainlist: (1) open MetaMask, (2) go to chainlist.org, (3) search 'Polygon', (4) click 'Add to MetaMask' next to Polygon Mainnet (Chain ID: 137), (5) click Approve in MetaMask popup, (6) click Switch Network. Done in 30 seconds with verified RPC settings. Manual alternative: MetaMask → Add Network → enter: Name: Polygon Mainnet, RPC: https://polygon-rpc.com, Chain ID: 137, Symbol: POL, Explorer: https://polygonscan.com.

What is Chain ID 137?

Chain ID 137 is the unique identifier for Polygon Mainnet. Every EVM blockchain has a unique Chain ID preventing transaction replay attacks across networks. Polygon Mainnet = 137, Polygon Mumbai Testnet = 80001, Ethereum Mainnet = 1, BNB Chain = 56. When adding any network to MetaMask, verifying the Chain ID is the most important check — incorrect Chain IDs can expose your transactions to replay attacks.

How much POL do I need for Polygon presale gas fees?

Minimal amount — Polygon gas fees are $0.001-$0.05 per transaction. A $1-2 worth of POL covers hundreds of presale interactions. Practical approach: buy $5-10 of POL and it will last months of active presale participation. Keep a small POL reserve in your Polygon wallet at all times — never participate in a presale without enough gas to claim tokens at TGE.

What is the difference between Polygon and Polygon zkEVM?

Polygon PoS (mainnet, Chain ID 137): the established sidechain with massive ecosystem, low fees, and most presales/IDOs. Polygon zkEVM (Chain ID 1101): a newer true L2 that settles to Ethereum using ZK proofs — higher security model but smaller ecosystem currently. For most presales, Polygon PoS (137) is the correct network. Polygon zkEVM is a different network requiring different configuration. Always verify which Polygon network a specific presale uses.

How do I bridge funds to Polygon?

Bridging options: (1) official Polygon Portal (wallet.polygon.technology) — bridge ETH, USDC, USDT from Ethereum to Polygon (takes 7-20 minutes), (2) CEX withdrawal — withdraw POL from Binance/Coinbase/OKX directly to your Polygon address (fastest), (3) third-party bridges (Hop, Stargate, Across) — faster than official bridge, supports more tokens. For first-time users, CEX withdrawal is simplest — withdraw POL on Polygon network directly to MetaMask.

What is the Polygon RPC URL?

The recommended Polygon Mainnet RPC URL is https://polygon-rpc.com (official Polygon Labs endpoint). Alternative free RPCs: https://rpc.ankr.com/polygon or https://polygon-mainnet.g.alchemy.com/v2/[API_KEY]. RPCs are the communication channel between MetaMask and the Polygon network. If you experience slow loading, switch to an alternative RPC via Chainlist. Never use RPCs from unknown sources — a malicious RPC can display fake balances.

Can I use the same MetaMask address for Ethereum and Polygon?

Yes — the same 0x address works across all EVM chains (Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Base, etc.). Your MetaMask seed phrase generates the same address on each chain. Token balances are separate per chain — ETH on Ethereum doesn't show on Polygon. When a presale asks for your wallet address, the same 0x address works for any EVM network. Switch networks in MetaMask to see chain-specific balances.

What presales and IDOs are on Polygon?

Active Polygon presale ecosystem: Kommunitas launchpad (post-KOM migration, still supports Polygon project launches), QuickSwap-based IDOs, Polygon-native DeFi IDOs, and projects building on Polygon CDK L1s (Immutable, OKX X1) that target Polygon PoS investor community. For the full Polygon presale and IDO landscape, visit CryptoRank filtered by Polygon chain.

How do I add Polygon tokens to MetaMask?

Adding received presale tokens: (1) find the token contract address from the launchpad's official page or project website, (2) in MetaMask on Polygon network, scroll down and click 'Import tokens', (3) paste the contract address — name and decimals auto-populate, (4) verify name and symbol match expectations, (5) click 'Add custom token'. Tokens sent to your address but not imported won't show in the MetaMask balance view even though they're in your wallet.

What is Rabby Wallet as a Polygon alternative?

Rabby Wallet is an alternative to MetaMask for Polygon presales with built-in transaction simulation — previewing exactly what a transaction will do before you sign. Available as Chrome/Brave/Firefox extension. Rabby uses the same wallet addresses as MetaMask (same seed phrase compatible) and works on Polygon identically. The transaction simulation feature is particularly valuable for Polygon presales where malicious contracts can attempt to drain approvals.

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