Cronos Launches $42K Hackathon to Innovate AI Blockchain Payments

Cronos has officially launched the x402 PayTech Hackathon, a global initiative featuring a prize pool of $42,000. This challenge invites developers from around the world to create innovative tools and applications that leverage AI-integrated blockchain payment technologies. The hackathon aims to advance the future of on-chain payments within the Cronos and Crypto.com ecosystem.

This new initiative aligns with Cronos’ long-term vision of establishing a robust foundation for institutional tokenization and AI-driven financial solutions. Recent technical upgrades have significantly enhanced the platform, including a tenfold reduction in gas fees, a 400% increase in daily transaction volume, and block times now under one second. These improvements position Cronos as a competitive platform for developing high-performance AI-native applications.

Encouraging Innovation in Payment Solutions

Developers participating in the hackathon will have the opportunity to experiment with various features, such as automated transaction flows and AI-powered smart wallet behaviors. They can also explore integrations with real-world assets and develop tools that support agentic logic, bridging the gap between traditional finance and decentralized protocols. This initiative has the potential to impact millions of users worldwide.

Registration for the hackathon opened on DoraHacks on November 1, 2023, with the build phase scheduled to run from early December through late January. Mirko Zhao, Head of Cronos Labs, expressed enthusiasm for the event, stating, “This hackathon is a testing ground for what happens when AI agents can not only process data but also move value.” He emphasized that the recent upgrades and new developer frameworks provide teams with the necessary tools to create genuine AI-native applications.

Participants will have access to a range of resources, including workshops, live office hours, technical documentation, and a comprehensive library covering topics from the Cronos EVM to x402’s programmable payments. Top-performing teams may also receive further support after the hackathon, including grants, incubation, and collaboration opportunities within the Cronos ecosystem.

About Cronos and Its Ecosystem

Cronos is a blockchain platform supported by Crypto.com and backed by over 500 developers and partners. It caters to more than 150 million users and focuses on developing decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure that enhances the accessibility, security, and scalability of tokenized assets. The Cronos ecosystem comprises three distinct networks: the Cronos EVM, an Ethereum-compatible chain built using the Cosmos SDK; the Cronos POS, a Cosmos-based network optimized for payments and NFTs; and the Cronos zkEVM, a high-speed Ethereum Layer 2 secured by zero-knowledge proofs.

With over $6 billion in user assets and more than 100 million transactions processed, Cronos ranks among the top 15 blockchain ecosystems globally. Users pay transaction fees using the platform’s native token, $CRO. The accelerator arm, Cronos Labs, concentrates on supporting early-stage projects in DeFi, GameFi, and AI development. Additional information is available at cronos.org or by following @cronos_chain on X.