Crypto.com

Crypto.com is one of the world's largest centralized cryptocurrency platforms, offering a full-stack suite of products that spans exchange trading, custodial staking, non-custodial DeFi access, crypto-linked payment cards, and merchant payment infrastructure. Founded in 2016 and now serving more than 150 million users globally, the platform supports more than 400 cryptocurrencies — including Solana (SOL) — and provides several dedicated entry points for Solana holders ranging from spot trading and liquid staking to native on-chain staking through its non-custodial wallet.

Background and Founding

Crypto.com was founded in Hong Kong in 2016 under the name Monaco by Kris Marszalek, Bobby Bao, Gary Or, and Rafael Melo. The team raised $26.7 million in a token sale in spring 2017. In 2018, the company rebranded to Crypto.com after acquiring the domain from cryptography professor Matt Blaze — a purchase independently valued at $5 to $10 million. The rebranding reflected a broader ambition: to accelerate cryptocurrency adoption for everyday users rather than serve only traders.

Marszalek, who serves as CEO, had previously founded and sold the e-commerce platform Beecrazy to iBuy Group in 2013, and had served as CEO of Southeast Asian discount retailer Ensogo before entering the crypto space.

Growth has been rapid. The platform reported 10 million users in early 2021, surpassed 100 million by mid-2024, and claims more than 150 million users as of mid-2026. The company secured a $400 million investment from Citadel Securities in July 2026, one of the largest capital infusions in the platform's history.

Products and Services

Crypto.com App

The primary consumer interface for buying, selling, and trading more than 400 cryptocurrencies. The app supports free fiat deposits via SEPA, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. SOL is listed and tradable against USD and USDT pairs. Users can access a staking interface for SOL directly through the app, with the platform citing an estimated APR of approximately 5.11%. Staking rewards are distributed up to three times weekly based on Solana epoch cadence, and unstaking involves a network-imposed unbonding period of up to five days.

The platform also introduced liquid staking for SOL in the form of CDCSOL — a wrapped receipt token that represents staked SOL and remains tradable on the platform while the underlying position accrues rewards.

Crypto.com Exchange

A professional trading venue with more than 480 spot trading pairs and derivatives support including perpetual contracts and futures with leverage up to 50x. Trading fees start at 0.25% maker and 0.50% taker and decrease with trading volume and CRO holdings.

Crypto.com DeFi Wallet

A non-custodial wallet that supports more than 4,000 tokens across more than 30 blockchains, including Solana. On-chain SOL staking is available directly through the wallet's Earn tab with a minimum of 0.01 SOL. A 5% commission is charged on staking rewards, and standard Solana network fees apply. The wallet maintains user self-custody without taking possession of assets. Users can connect to Solana dApps via the wallet's dApp browser alongside swap, transfer, and NFT management within a single interface.

Crypto.com Pay

A merchant payment network accepted at more than 300,000 merchants globally. Recent expansions include Dubai Duty Free — the first Middle East airport retailer to accept Crypto.com Pay — and Emirates Airlines for flight payments. The platform also launched Crypto.com Travel in 2026, an in-app travel booking service powered by Bookit.

Crypto.com Visa Card

Tiered prepaid and credit card products with up to 5 to 6% cashback rewards paid in CRO. Higher tiers require staking progressively larger amounts of CRO. The card is accepted anywhere Visa is used globally.

Level Up Subscription Program

Relaunched in September 2025, Level Up offers three tiers — Plus, Pro, and Private — with subscription plans starting at approximately $4.99 per month. Benefits include up to 9.5% APY on CRO with a 12-month lock, zero-fee trading promotions, and up to 19% APY on select assets including SOL and ETH within the earn program.

Cronos and CRO Token

Crypto.com operates the Cronos blockchain — an EVM-compatible layer-1 built with the Cosmos SDK that supports DeFi, NFT, and gaming applications. The native token, CRO, has a capped supply of 30 billion tokens and serves as the fuel for Cronos network transaction fees, governance participation, and staking rewards. Within the Crypto.com ecosystem, CRO holdings unlock trading fee discounts, card tier upgrades, and higher earn rates through the Level Up program. The Cronos network connects to other blockchains via the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol.

Crypto.com does not operate a native on-chain program on the Solana mainnet; its Solana integration is delivered through the centralized exchange, the custodial staking product, and the DeFi wallet's multi-chain support.

Security and Regulatory Status

Crypto.com holds SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, ISO 22301, and PCI DSS 4.0 certifications. Client cryptocurrency is held 100% in cold storage, and the platform maintains insurance coverage of up to $750 million on custodied assets. An Account Protection Programme covers unauthorized transactions up to $250,000.

The platform holds operating licenses across multiple jurisdictions: Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP), Electronic Money Institution (EMI), and Investment Firm (CIF) authorizations in the EU enabling passporting across EEA member states; FinCEN registration in the United States; FINTRAC registration in Canada; an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL); an in-principle approval from Singapore's Monetary Authority; and a UAE Stored Value Facilities License obtained in May 2026.

Notable History

Crypto.com became a major global brand through marketing partnerships in the 2021 bull market. The company struck a $100 million sponsorship with Formula One and signed a 20-year naming rights deal for the Los Angeles arena — formerly the Staples Center — in a deal reportedly valued at $700 million, now known as Crypto.com Arena. Brand ambassador partnerships have included Matt Damon, FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Champions League.

In 2022, the company cut more than 2,000 employees — roughly 30 to 40% of its workforce — in response to the broader crypto market downturn. The company subsequently restructured its rewards programs and compliance posture.

Product expansion resumed through 2025 and 2026: tokenized stocks and ETF trading were added to the exchange in 2025, and OG Prediction Markets launched in February 2026 through a partnership with FanDuel. A Fanatics Collectibles partnership produced a UEFA Champions League NFT activation in May 2026. The $400 million Citadel Securities investment in July 2026 was among the largest capital infusions the platform had received.

Solana Ecosystem Role

For Solana users, Crypto.com primarily functions as a large regulated on-ramp and off-ramp with staking infrastructure attached. SOL is listed on both the consumer app and the professional exchange, custodial staking earns approximately 5.11% APR with rewards distributed up to three times weekly, and non-custodial on-chain staking through the DeFi Wallet gives users who prefer self-custody a pathway to earn native Solana staking yields. The CDCSOL liquid staking token adds flexibility for users who want to maintain tradability while their position accrues staking rewards.

The platform's broad regulatory coverage, institutional relationships, and consumer scale make it one of the higher-volume access points through which retail users globally interact with SOL.