Cronos (CRO): how it works, supply and reviews
Exchange token
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Key facts
- Ticker
- CRO
- Category
- Exchange token
- Network
- token on Ethereum
- Launched
- 2018-11
- Mining algorithm
- Ethash
- Official site
- cronos.org
- Whitepaper
- whitepaper.cronos.org
- Source code
- github.com/crypto-org-chain/chain-main
Data: CoinGecko, 2026-10-27. Only projects that still trade with meaningful volume are listed.
What is Cronos
Cronos is a blockchain ecosystem of two chains: Cronos POS, a Cosmos proof-of-stake chain (formerly Crypto.org Chain), and Cronos EVM, an Ethereum-compatible chain built on the Cosmos SDK. CRO is the native token of both and pays transaction fees, staking and governance.
Network and consensus
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Two chains: Cronos POS (Cosmos SDK) and Cronos EVM (Ethereum-compatible, Cosmos SDK) |
| Consensus | Cronos POS: Tendermint BFT proof of stake with a validator set |
| Consensus | Cronos EVM: described by the project as proof of authority, a permissioned variant of proof of stake |
| Launched | Cronos EVM mainnet: 8 November 2021 |
| Block time | About 0.5 seconds on Cronos EVM, as stated by the project |
| Smart contracts | Cronos EVM is EVM-compatible; contracts are written in Solidity with Ethereum tooling |
| Chain ID | Cronos EVM mainnet chain ID 25 |
Supply and issuance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum supply | Hard cap of 100 billion CRO enforced by the Cronos POS chain |
| Issuance | New CRO is minted each block for stakers; the emission rate started at 1% a year and decays by 6.8% each month |
| Staking rewards | Delegated CRO earns base rewards every block; holders can also opt into tiered staking with exit commitments of 1 to 4 years |
| Fee burn | Cronos Labs states that revenue from its Ult and Cronos Launch products is used to buy and burn CRO |
What CRO is used for
- Paying transaction fees on Cronos EVM.
- Staking (delegating to validators) on Cronos POS to secure the network and earn rewards.
- Voting on Cronos POS governance proposals as a bonded CRO holder.
Who develops and governs Cronos
- Developer
- Cronos Labs; the chains are built in partnership with Crypto.com
- Governance
- On-chain governance on Cronos POS: bonded CRO holders vote on parameters, upgrades and community-pool spending
- Open source
- Yes; Cronos EVM code is public on GitHub
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 8 November 2021 | Cronos EVM mainnet launched. |
| 18 September 2026 | Cronos Labs posted governance proposals on routing Ult and Cronos Launch revenue to CRO buy-and-burn and on a fifth community-pool burn. |
Security and audits
- Cronos POS uses the Tendermint BFT consensus engine, which the project chose for its tested implementation and long track record.
Risks and caveats
- Cronos EVM consensus is described by the project as proof of authority, a permissioned variant of proof of stake.
- Staking reward rates and tier parameters are governance-adjustable and depend on available protocol revenue.
- The older ERC-20 CRO must be burned to migrate to mainnet CRO, and funds are inaccessible during the migration period.
Official links
- Website: cronos.org
- Docs: docs.cronos.com
- Docs: docs.cronos-pos.org
- Block explorer: explorer.cronos.com
- Source code: github.com/crypto-org-chain
Questions and answers
What is Cronos (CRO)?
Cronos is a two-chain ecosystem: Cronos POS, a Cosmos proof-of-stake chain, and Cronos EVM, an Ethereum-compatible chain. CRO is the native token of both.
Who develops Cronos?
Cronos Labs leads development and strategy, in partnership with Crypto.com. Changes to Cronos POS go through on-chain votes by bonded CRO holders.
What is the maximum supply of CRO?
The Cronos POS chain enforces a hard cap of 100 billion CRO. New CRO is minted for stakers at a decaying rate.
How does Cronos reach consensus?
Cronos POS uses Tendermint BFT proof of stake with a validator set. Cronos EVM uses what the project calls proof of authority, a permissioned variant of proof of stake.
Sources
- CoinGecko — Cronos
- Cronos EVM Docs — Introduction
- Cronos EVM Docs — Network Specifications
- Cronos POS Docs — Architecture
- Cronos POS Docs — Tokenomics and Inflation
- Cronos POS Docs — Governance and Voting
- Cronos POS Docs — Token Migration Guide
- Cronos — Network
- Cronos Labs — Mission, Strategy and the Tokenomics Proposal
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