Zug, Switzerland - On March 18, the Interchain Foundation (ICF), the guardian of the Cosmos ecosystem and its Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol, announced the funding to open-source evmOS, an innovative Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 solution that empowers developers to build EVM-powered blockchains using the Cosmos SDK. This pivotal move enhances Cosmos’s capabilities for Ethereum-native users, protocols, and infrastructure providers, with evmOS known as the most comprehensive and high-performance EVM solution for L1 protocols.
Licensed under Apache 2.0, evmOS will see development through a fork named Cosmos EVM within the Interchain Stack, managed by the Interchain Labs (ICL) team. This initiative specifically targets the 'OS' repository, while other Evmos-related libraries and the Evmos blockchain remain separate.
Evmos co-founder Federico Kunze Küllmer will transition from his Evmos contributor role to an advisory position, focusing on Ethereum interoperability and modular blockchain architecture and guiding Cosmos EVM's roadmap in alignment with the Cosmos ecosystem's vision.
"Building evmOS has been an incredible journey, profoundly impacting the EVM ecosystem on Cosmos," said Federico Kunze Küllmer from Tharsis Labs. "The community and code longevity remain our priority, and we welcome ICF’s support. I am excited to contribute strategically in the next phase."
“evmOS has achieved a synergistic integration of the Cosmos SDK and EVM, enabling EVM support as a VM, seamless Ethereum wallet interaction on Cosmos and EVM chains, and customizable EVM extensions via the Cosmos SDK”, explained Barry Plunkett, Co-CEO of Interchain Labs.
Strategic Vision for evmOS Under ICF
The ICF will integrate Cosmos EVM, the fork of evmOS, further into the Interchain Stack, enhancing its status as the official EVM solution for Cosmos chains. ICF and Interchain Labs will lead the development, fostering permissionless innovation and seamless cross-chain interaction and providing superior platforms and tools for global application builders.
Cosmos EVM, completely open-source under Apache 2.0, invites widespread developer involvement, empowering modification and deployment across varied applications to cultivate a more inclusive decentralized development ecosystem.
“evmOS has been pivotal in connecting Ethereum and Cosmos ecosystems, and we are keen to nurture its progress within the Interchain Foundation,” shared Josh Cincinnati, president of ICF’s Foundation Council. "Federico’s leadership and technical expertise have transformed first Etheremint and then evmOS into premier solutions for proof-of-stake networks, and his strategic insights are invaluable," stated Barry Plunkett.
What’s Next
With the roadmap now under the Cosmos EVM banner, the commitment to enhancing the EVM ecosystem and ensuring seamless Ethereum compatibility within the Cosmos network remains steadfast. ICF and ICL will collaborate with evmOS projects to secure a smooth transition in upcoming network upgrades.
