Cronos

CRO CMC #35 in the snapshot

Cronos is an ecosystem with two distinct active chains described in current documentation: Cronos EVM and Cronos POS. Sharing CRO does not make their accounts, validators or transaction paths identical.

Profile checked 14 Nov 2026Asset ranks captured 14 Nov 2026Snapshot & methodology ↗

01 / THE PURPOSE

What is Cronos for?

Cronos EVM hosts Ethereum-compatible applications, including exchanges and tokenized-asset workflows. Cronos POS provides a separate Cosmos-based ledger for payments, staking and other native modules. Users must choose the intended chain when moving assets.

02 / THE ARCHITECTURE

Three questions about the machinery.

How does it agree?

Consensus & security

Cronos EVM uses a permissioned variant of Tendermint proof of stake commonly called proof of authority. Cronos POS instead uses its own stake-backed validator set and Tendermint-style Byzantine fault tolerant agreement. Both depend on their respective validator assumptions rather than Ethereum validating their execution.

Where do instructions run?

Execution model

The EVM chain combines Cosmos SDK infrastructure with Ethereum-compatible execution, allowing Solidity contracts and familiar wallets. Interchain communication can connect supported Cosmos networks, but each transfer still follows the relevant channel and asset rules.

What is the token for?

CRO in the system

CRO pays transaction fees on Cronos EVM and participates in the Cronos POS staking economy. A token’s symbol alone is insufficient to identify where a balance exists or how to send it.

03 / THE DESIGN CHOICES

What comes with the design?

Each architecture makes choices about security, performance, coordination, and who can participate.

Permissioned EVM validator selection concentrates operating responsibilities.
Bridged assets add bridge risk; application compatibility does not imply identical balances across chains.

04 / IN PRACTICE

Follow one use.

A person with CRO on Cronos POS cannot spend it in an EVM application until it reaches the appropriate EVM account through a supported transfer route.

05 / CHECK THE EXPLANATION

Sources & snapshot.

Network descriptions use the references below. The CoinMarketCap snapshot determines which assets are in scope and their captured rank; it does not assess the quality of a network.

Cronos EVM introduction Cronos documentation contributors
Cronos POS Chain architecture Cronos POS documentation contributors
Cronos MetaMask Configuration Cronos documentation contributors
CoinMarketCap top 100 snapshot Captured 14 Nov 2026 · See the complete scope audit
Cronos (CRO) on CoinMarketCap Captured asset rank #35

Profile checked 14 Nov 2026. Network designs and ranked positions can change.