# Getting Started

Thanks for your interest in Cronos.

Please browse the navigation bar of this documentation where you can find reference information for:

* End-users
* dApp developers
* Node hosts
* Game developers (Cronos Play)
* And more!

## What is Cronos?

Cronos (cronos.org) is a leading blockchain ecosystem that has partnered with Crypto.com and more than 500 application developers and contributors representing an addressable user base of more than a hundred million people around the world. Cronos' mission is to make it easy and safe for the next billion crypto users to adopt self-custody in Web3, with a focus on Decentralized Finance and Gaming.

The Cronos universe encompasses 3 chains: **Cronos EVM**, the leading Ethereum-compatible blockchain built on the Cosmos SDK; **Cronos POS**, a leading Cosmos chain for payments and NFTs; and **Cronos zkEVM**, a new high performance layer 2 network secured by Ethereum.

Cronos ranks among the top 15 blockchain ecosystems, encompassing more than 6 billion dollars of user assets. Since inception, it has securely settled more than 100 million transactions.

Transaction fees are paid in Cronos ($CRO), a blue chip cryptocurrency.

Cronos is supported by Cronos Labs, a Web3 start-up accelerator focused on DeFi, GameFi, and the development of the Cronos ecosystem.

## Why build on Cronos EVM?

If you are a Web3 application creator, there are 3 main reasons to build on Cronos:

* EVM compatible – Solidity and all the EVM tools just work out of the box.
* Strategic partnership with [Crypto.com](http://crypto.com/) – easy on-ramp to your dapp.
* \#CROFam - a highly engaged user and builder community of >100 million people worldwide, who are keen to try the latest and greatest apps.

As an application founder/developer on Cronos, you can leverage:

* Wrapped versions of most of the world’s top 50 cryptocurrencies
* 30+ leading wallets (including Crypto.com Defi Wallet, Rabby, MetaMask, Trust Wallet)
* Ethermint, a Ethereum Virtual Machine module built by the open-source Cosmos SDK community.
* IBC cross-chain connectivity to Cosmos chains.
* Convenient Ethereum developer tools (Solidity, Truffle, Hardhat, OpenZeppelin, Web3.js, ethers.js, ChainSafe Gaming SDK, etc.).
* [Cronos Play](https://cronos.org/play), a suite of developer tools for web, Unity, Unreal and C++ game developers.

## Useful links

Web: [Cronos](https://cronos.org) | [Cronos Labs](https://cronoslabs.org)

Blog: [Cronos](https://blog.cronos.org/)

Socials:[ X.com](https://x.com/cronos_chain) | [Telegram](https://t.me/Cronos_Announcements) | [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/pahqHz26q4) | [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@cronos_chain)

White paper: [Cronos Whitepaper](https://whitepaper.cronos.org/)

Code repository: [Github](https://github.com/crypto-org-chain/cronos)

**Ecosystem:**

* [List of Dapps](https://discover.cronos.org)
* [DeFi ecosystem on Defillama](https://defillama.com/chain/Cronos)
* [Gaming and metaverse ecosystem](https://blog.cronos.org/p/news-from-the-cronos-gaming-ecosystem)
* [Dappradar](https://dappradar.com/rankings/protocol/cronos)
* [Block explorer](https://explorer.cronos.org)

**Developer tips:**

* [Hackathon cheatsheet](https://docs.cronos.org/~/changes/416/for-dapp-developers/hacker-resources)
* [Developer tools and integration](https://docs.cronos.org/~/changes/416/for-dapp-developers/dev-tools-and-integrations)
* [App creator & developer FAQs](https://docs.cronos.org/~/changes/416/for-dapp-developers/founder-faqs)

**Brand assets:**

[media-brand-kit](https://docs.cronos.org/~/changes/416/resources/media-brand-kit "mention")