Cronos Labs and LayerZero announced the integration of LayerZero’s cross-blockchain interoperability protocol into Cronos EVM and Cronos zkEVM. This includes both mainnet and testnet networks so that developers can create bridges and applications that link Cronos to over 115 blockchains supported by LayerZero, including Ethereum and Solana.
It is a protocol that enables the transfer of assets and data across different blockchain networks, and this integration means that Cronos users can get the best from many blockchains in terms of liquidity and functionality for different dApps. Cronos EVM, built on the Cosmos SDK, enables the transfer of assets between the Cosmos ecosystem and many EVM compatible blockchains. The integration is achieved through the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol, which is the cross-chain communication standard in the Cosmos ecosystem. This means that assets can be sent from Cronos to other blockchains and vice versa without the need for intermediaries.
On the other hand, Cronos zkEVM is a layer 2 solution that focuses on improving throughput and reducing transaction time. As the first Elastic Chain to go live on the mainnet after ZKSync Era, Cronos zkEVM improves the cross-chain transfer times because it shares Ethereum bridges with several Elastic chains. It also works with many layer 1 and layer 2 networks.
The CEO of Cronos Labs, Ken Timsit, commented on the need for cross-chain connectivity. He pointed out that the problem of fragmentation in the crypto industry is a major issue that poses a threat to security and liquidity. According to Timsit, the integration with LayerZero is a strategic move to solve these problems, as more connection between crypto projects and traditional financial systems is expected in 2025.
Bryan Pellegrino, the CEO of LayerZero Labs, on the inclusion of Cronos zkEVM into the LayerZero network. He said that interoperability is the process of connecting different types of chains, and Cronos zkEVM is another good contribution in this regard. Pellegrino highlighted the potential of the opportunities that this collaboration will bring.
Currently, the cross-blockchain features provided by LayerZero are available to developers only. End users will find these features implemented as third-party links on Cronos’s official bridge portals. These portals can be accessed at cronos.org/bridge for Cronos EVM and zkevm.cronos.org/bridge for Cronos zkEVM. In the coming weeks, users will be able to send CRO and zkCRO tokens via new token bridging services.
Cronos Labs is ready to help developers to use these tools. Apart from token bridging, the focus is also on supporting decentralized applications that can benefit from LayerZero’s technology. Possible use cases are cross chain prediction markets, tokenization of real world assets, synthetic asset trading platforms, cross chain lending protocols and liquid staking protocols.
The partnership between Cronos and LayerZero is a step towards the further evolution of interconnectedness in the blockchain world. Therefore, the integration of Cronos with a multitude of blockchains is meant to improve the functionality and availability of dApps and provide users with more choices and possibilities when it comes to the management of their digital assets.
Final Thoughts
The integration of LayerZero with Cronos EVM and zkEVM is a major enhancement in the cross-chain interoperability. This partnership solves some of the biggest issues in the crypto industry, such as fragmentation and liquidity, by enabling connection with more than 115 blockchain networks. When these new bridging options are started to be used by the developers, the ecosystem is likely to experience new and exciting apps that can run on many different blockchains at once. This move not only improves the value of the Cronos network but also fosters the growth of the larger goal of a more integrated and effective blockchain world.
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