Cronos Unveils x402 Hackathon for AI Payment Innovations

Summary:
Cronos has launched the x402 PayTech Hackathon, offering a total prize pool of $42,000 for developers focused on creating AI-powered payment solutions using its enhanced blockchain network.

Key Takeaways:

Cronos has initiated the x402 PayTech Hackathon with a $42,000 prize for developers.
The hackathon is aimed at fostering projects involving AI payment applications on the Cronos blockchain.
Significant updates to the Cronos network have improved performance and reduced costs drastically.
Participants will receive support through workshops and resources, with opportunities for further development post-event.

Cronos launches x402 hackathon for AI payment systems - 1

Cronos Launches the x402 PayTech Hackathon

Cronos has opened registrations for its x402 PayTech Hackathon, featuring a notable prize pool of $42,000 for developers creating AI-native payment applications on its upgraded blockchain network. The initiative invites teams to explore automated settlement flows, smart wallet tools, and payment integrations for real-world assets that work seamlessly with both the Cronos network and the broader Crypto.com ecosystem.

“The x402 PayTech Hackathon is the beginning of real-world experimentation,” said Mirko Zhao, Head of Cronos Labs, speaking to crypto.news. “It's where AI agents can go beyond computing to actually exchange value. With the recent performance enhancements on Cronos and an expanding range of AI-native tools, developers now have the necessary framework to turn intelligent applications into reality. We look forward to seeing innovators leverage these capabilities into applications that push the industry forward.”

Performance Enhancements Fuel AI Infrastructure in Cronos' New Initiative

Recent improvements to the Cronos network have decreased gas fees by approximately 90%, increased daily transaction volume by about four times, and reduced block times to under one second. With these enhancements in place, the team envisions Cronos as a foundational layer for tokenization projects and AI-driven financial systems.

Participants in the hackathon will benefit from practical support, which includes workshops, office hours, and comprehensive documentation on Cronos EVM, x402 programmatic payments, and the Crypto.com AI Agent SDK. Noteworthy projects will have the chance to progress beyond the event through grants, incubator opportunities, or direct partnerships within the broader ecosystem.

With over 500 developers engaged on its platform, Cronos connects directly to Crypto.com, enabling successful projects access to approximately 150 million potential users. The network ranks among the top 15 blockchains globally in terms of total value, safeguarding over $6 billion in user assets and facilitating more than 100 million transactions since its inception.

Mirko Zhao emphasizes the hackathon as a dynamic testing environment for AI agents capable of managing value transfers, rather than merely handling background calculations. The build phase will take place from early December to late January, with developers encouraged to register via DoraHacks.