Cronos (CRO) EVM is preparing for a major upgrade that aims to significantly accelerate transaction processing across its blockchain. The initiative, which involves reducing block time by a factor of ten, is expected to transform the network into one of the fastest and most responsive platforms in the decentralized space, particularly for sectors such as decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, and digital payments.
According to the team behind Cronos, this upgrade is a key milestone in the network’s long-term strategy to optimize performance and enhance user experience. The current block time of 5.6 seconds is slated to drop to under one second, marking a substantial leap toward real-time transaction capabilities. This move is designed to strengthen the infrastructure necessary to support increasingly demanding decentralized applications (dApps) and to meet the expectations of users who rely on instant and reliable execution.
The planned enhancement builds on recent innovations such as the integration of BlockSTM, a parallel execution engine that allows for concurrent processing of transactions. This feature has already improved throughput considerably, and the forthcoming reduction in block time is anticipated to further amplify transaction speeds and responsiveness across the Cronos ecosystem.
Cronos has scheduled the testnet deployment of this upgrade for the week of June 16, 2025. Once activated, developers and infrastructure providers will have the chance to evaluate and adapt their applications to align with the new performance benchmarks. If the test phase proceeds as expected, a full mainnet launch is projected to follow in early July 2025.
🕶️ Summer’s coming fast. So is #Cronos.
⚡️ Up to 10x reduction in block time
Cronos EVM is entering sub-second era this July:
✅ Higher TPS
✅ Real-time DeFi & gaming
✅ Lightning-fast UX👉 See what’s ahead #CROFam: https://t.co/2gY7FNt0Nw pic.twitter.com/SF55mTf9yE
— Cronos (@cronos_chain) June 12, 2025
In preparation for this transition, Cronos is actively encouraging developers and validators to begin testing their dApps on the testnet. Those with logic or operations that are sensitive to block timing, including indexing and time-based functionalities, are being urged to assess potential impacts and provide feedback. The deadline for submitting technical insights or concerns has been set for June 18, 2025.
This initiative forms a critical component of Cronos’s broader vision to support the next generation of Web3 adoption. As decentralized applications become more sophisticated and user demands continue to rise, the network is positioning itself to accommodate the resulting performance requirements. By offering a high-throughput, low-latency infrastructure, Cronos aims to attract a wide range of builders who are seeking to deliver advanced, real-time blockchain solutions.
Ultimately, the reduction in block time underscores Cronos’s commitment to scaling its network without compromising on speed or reliability. With the upcoming upgrade, the platform seeks to empower developers and ecosystem partners to innovate more freely and deliver frictionless user experiences across diverse applications in finance, entertainment, and commerce. As the testnet launch approaches, the blockchain community is watching closely to see how this performance boost could shape the next chapter in Cronos’s evolution.
