[Crypto projects](https://revain.org/projects/) › Cronos

# Cronos (CRO): how it works, supply and reviews

## In short

- **Type**: Two chains: Cronos EVM (Ethereum-compatible, Cosmos SDK) and Cronos POS (Cosmos proof of stake)
- **Maximum supply**: Hard cap of 100 billion CRO enforced by Cronos POS Chain
- **Risks and caveats**: Cronos EVM consensus is permissioned (proof of authority), not open validator proof of stake.
- **Checked**: 31 October 2026

## Key facts

- **Ticker**: CRO
- **Official site**: [cronos.com](https://cronos.com/)

Key facts checked on 31 October 2026 against official sources.

## What is Cronos

Cronos is an EVM-compatible blockchain built on the Cosmos SDK, with transaction fees paid in CRO. CRO also powers the separate Cronos POS Chain, a Cosmos proof-of-stake chain.

## Network and consensus

| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Two chains: Cronos EVM (Ethereum-compatible, Cosmos SDK) and Cronos POS (Cosmos proof of stake) |
| Consensus | Cronos EVM: Tendermint BFT in a permissioned proof-of-authority variant |
| Technology | Built on Ethermint, the Cosmos SDK and Tendermint Core |
| Finality | Final settlement in about 500 ms |
| Chain ID | Cronos EVM mainnet chain ID 25; native token CRO |
| Launched | Cronos EVM mainnet launched on 8 November 2021 |

## Supply and issuance

| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum supply | Hard cap of 100 billion CRO enforced by Cronos POS Chain |
| Issuance | New CRO minted each block for stakers; emission starts at 1% a year and decays 6.8% each month |
| Staking rewards | Base staking targets about 3% APY, topped up from a Tier Rewards Pool when fees fall short |
| Burns | Fee revenue flows back to CRO through staking rewards, buybacks and burns |
| Token migration | ERC-20 CRO on Ethereum is migrated to mainnet CRO by burning it to the 0x…dEaD address |

## What CRO is used for

- Paying transaction fees on Cronos EVM
- Staking on Cronos POS Chain to secure the network
- Voting on Cronos POS on-chain governance proposals

## Who develops and governs Cronos

- **Developer**: Cronos Labs builds Cronos Network, Cronos Launch and the Ult trading app
- **Company**: Cronos Labs was formerly the Particle B accelerator and fund (renamed April 2022)
- **Partner**: Cronos describes Crypto.com as a strategic partner
- **Governance**: Cronos POS: on-chain proposals voted by bonded CRO holders
- **Open source**: The Cronos protocol is open source on GitHub

## History

| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 8 November 2021 | Cronos EVM mainnet launches. |
| 18 February 2022 | The CRO token, formerly Crypto.org Coin, is renamed Cronos. |
| April 2022 | The Particle B accelerator and fund starts operating as Cronos Labs. |

## Security and audits

- Cronos uses Tendermint, which Cronos describes as a robustly tested consensus engine in development since 2014.
- Tier-locked CRO stays subject to standard validator slashing rules.

## Security incidents

| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 30 August 2026 | Network halt: Cronos said it identified an exploit in Tectonic (a lending protocol on Cronos) and halted the Cronos Network. Its post-mortem says Tectonic identified manipulation of collateral values on 30 August 2026 at 12:49 UTC, resulting in approximately $120.4 million in borrowing activity. | [x.com](https://x.com/CronosNetwork/status/2094072333434769703) |

## Risks and caveats

- Cronos EVM consensus is permissioned (proof of authority), not open validator proof of stake.
- Staking rewards are currently partly funded from a strategic reserve while protocol revenue grows.
- Unbonding staked CRO on Cronos POS takes 28 days.
- The separate Cronos zkEVM network is being sunset; users are asked to bridge assets out.

## Official links

- Website: [cronos.com](https://cronos.com/)
- Docs (Cronos EVM): [docs.cronos.com](https://docs.cronos.com/)
- Docs (Cronos POS): [docs.cronos-pos.org](https://docs.cronos-pos.org/)
- Source code: [github.com/crypto-org-chain/cronos](https://github.com/crypto-org-chain/cronos)
- Block explorer: [explorer.cronos.com](https://explorer.cronos.com/)
- Blog: [blog.cronos.com](https://blog.cronos.com/)

## Questions and answers

**What is Cronos?**

Cronos is an EVM-compatible blockchain built on the Cosmos SDK, launched on 8 November 2021. Fees are paid in CRO.

**What is the maximum supply of CRO?**

Cronos POS Chain enforces a hard cap of 100 billion CRO; new CRO is minted for stakers at a decaying rate.

**Is CRO the same as Crypto.org Coin?**

Yes. Crypto.org Coin (CRO) was renamed Cronos (CRO) in February 2022.

**How does Cronos reach consensus?**

Cronos EVM uses Tendermint BFT in a permissioned proof-of-authority setup; Cronos POS Chain is a Cosmos proof-of-stake chain.

**Who is behind Cronos?**

Cronos Labs builds Cronos Network; Cronos describes Crypto.com as a strategic partner.

## Sources

- [Cronos EVM Docs — Introduction](https://docs.cronos.org/)
- [Cronos EVM Docs — Network specifications](https://docs.cronos.com/introduction/introduction)
- [Cronos — Home](https://cronos.com/)
- [Cronos — About CRO](https://cronos.com/about-cro)
- [Cronos — Network](https://cronos.com/network)
- [Cronos POS Docs — Tokenomics and inflation](https://docs.cronos-pos.org/for-users/tokenomics-and-inflation)
- [Cronos POS Docs — Governance process](https://docs.cronos-pos.org/for-users/govprocess)
- [Cronos POS Docs — Token migration](https://docs.cronos-pos.org/for-users/token-migration)
- [Cronos blog — CRO is now Cronos](https://blog.cronos.com/p/cro-is-now-cronos-bf103c257bd)
- [Cronos blog — Introducing Cronos Labs](https://blog.cronos.com/p/introducing-cronos-labs-3b78a1aae0b7)

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Page updated: 2026-10-31

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Source: https://revain.org/projects/cronos/