Cronos EVM Smarturn Upgrade Explained: Impact for Users, Developers, Node Operators, and Ecosystem

The Cronos blockchain scheduled its "Smarturn" upgrade for October 30, 2025, introducing changes to its Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility and overall network operations. This hard fork, activated at block height 38,432,212 around 7:00 AM GMT, included a planned 60-minute downtime during which transactions, bridges, and explorers were paused. 

The upgrade, now completed, aligns Cronos more closely with Ethereum standards while adding specific optimizations for performance and interoperability, affecting users through improved wallet interactions, developers via new tools, node operators with required software updates, and the ecosystem by enhancing scalability for Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and cross-chain applications.

Timeline and Current Status of the Cronos Smarturn Upgrade

The EVM-compatible layer-1 network built on the Cosmos SDK announced the Smarturn upgrade in an official blog post on October 16, 2025. A follow-up guide for node operators was released soon after, outlining the steps needed for the transition. The activation was set for block 38,432,212, with an estimated time of 7:00 AM GMT, or 3:00 PM HKT/SGT. In practice, the process began around 8:46 AM GMT, when the chain entered a "break" mode to allow validators to implement the changes.

During the upgrade, all network services halted for about 60 minutes. This pause ensured a coordinated shift among validators, preventing any inconsistencies in block production. As of the latest reports on October 30, 2025, the current block height stood at 38,378,632 just before activation, confirming the chain's temporary suspension for deployment. Validators, including entities like Ubik Capital, reported smooth preparations with no significant issues. 

Key Features and Technical Changes in the Smarturn Upgrade

Smart Accounts (EIP-7702)
The Smarturn upgrade implements EIP-7702, enabling Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) to function as smart contract accounts temporarily. This enables programmable wallet logic, transaction bundling, custom permissions, and flexible gas payments, without requiring users to migrate funds or change addresses. Authorizations in this system can span multiple chains, supporting applications in DeFi and AI-integrated tools.

Go-Ethereum v1.15 Upgrade
This update aligns Cronos with Ethereum's Cancun and Prague forks by upgrading to go-ethereum version 1.15.11. It introduces new opcodes: TLOAD (0x5c) and TSTORE (0x5d) for transient storage as per EIP-1153, and MCOPY (0x5e) for efficient memory copying under EIP-5656. For instance, the MCOPY opcode reduces the gas cost of copying 256 bytes from approximately 100 gas to 27 gas. Transient storage facilitates temporary data handling, such as re-entrancy locks, which benefits computation-intensive applications like gaming or complex DeFi protocols.

New RPC Endpoint: eth_getBlockReceipts
A new RPC endpoint, eth_getBlockReceipts, was added to fetch all transaction receipts in a single block query. This reduces the need for multiple calls, lowering overhead for blockchain explorers, analytics tools, and monitoring software.

Mempool Enhancements
Mempool improvements include integrating PriorityNonceMempool and AnteCache to improve transaction ordering, caching, and validation. Users can now replace pending transactions with higher gas fees, enabling features like transaction "speed-up" or cancellation in wallets. This enhances network throughput during periods of high activity.

IBC Upgrade to v10.1.1
The Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol was upgraded to version 10.1.1, adopting IBC v2 architecture. This removes redundant handshakes, incorporates middleware for token transfers and callbacks, and explores integration with Eureka for expanded data exchange. These changes reduce latency in cross-chain interactions with other Cosmos-based networks.

Changelog and Binary Details
The full changelog for these updates is available on GitHub at https://github.com/crypto-org-chain/cronos/blob/v1.5.0/CHANGELOG.md. The upgrade uses binary version 1.5.1, which node operators were required to install.

Impacts on Users, Developers, and the Ecosystem

For regular users, the Smarturn upgrade involves minimal direct action beyond the brief downtime. According to the protocol’s X thread, following the completion, the upgrade promises smarter wallets, faster execution, and broader EVM compatibility. Smoother cross-chain transfers will also become more efficient due to IBC updates, affecting those involved in multi-chain activities.

Developers gain from the new opcodes and RPC endpoint, which lower gas costs and improve contract efficiency. For example, transient storage can optimize smart contract handling of temporary states, while MCOPY can speed up memory operations in code. The IBC v2 simplifies building cross-chain DApps, reducing development time for interoperability features. This setup supports DeFi applications, tokenized assets, and AI-related computations, given Cronos's integration with Crypto.com's user base of over 150 million.

On an ecosystem level, the upgrade enhances Cronos's competitiveness against Ethereum layer-2 solutions by improving scalability and performance. It positions the network for growth in real-world finance areas, such as compliant DeFi and asset tokenization. Overall, these changes aim to attract more builders to the platform.

Conclusion

The Cronos Smarturn upgrade delivers specific enhancements to EVM compatibility, account management, and interoperability through features such as EIP-7702, new opcodes, and IBC v2. It provides users with efficient wallet tools, developers with cost-reducing opcodes and APIs, node operators with clear upgrade protocols, and the ecosystem with better scalability for DeFi applications. This positions Cronos as a functional option in the blockchain space, emphasizing practical improvements in performance and cross-chain operations. 

Readers interested in further details should refer to official resources for ongoing developments.

Sources:

• Cronos EVM Upgrade on Mainnet: https://blockchain.news/news/cronos-plans-significant-evm-upgrade-smarturn-mainnet 
• Cronos Blog: https://blog.cronos.org/p/cronos-evm-mainnet-v15-smarturn-upgrade-04a 
• Cronos Emerges as Altcoin to Watch following Smarturn Upgrade: https://beincrypto.com/altcoins-to-watch-in-the-final-week-of-october-2025/