Where did Cosmos come from?

Computer scientists Jae Kwon and Ethan Buchman began work on Cosmos in 2016 with the aim of creating an interconnected and scalable network of blockchains. 

The founders envisioned a blockchain ecosystem where different blockchains could communicate seamlessly, creating a decentralised network of interoperable blockchains, but with a degree of security found in a traditional blockchain network. This was made possible through Kwon’s solution called Tendermint, which gave developers the tools to easily create blockchains without having to worry about the complications involved in securing and confirming transactions. Tendermint laid the foundations for Cosmos. 

The company Tendermint continues to build software solutions for other enterprise customers and the Cosmos network, one of which is the underlying Tendermint consensus mechanism for the entire network of blockchains in Cosmos.  

An early version of Cosmos won an award for the Most Innovative Project at the International Blockchain Week in Shanghai in September 2016. 

In 2017, the founders established a non-profit organisation in Switzerland called the Interchain Foundation (ICF), which was overseen by the Foundation Council (FC) with Kwon and Buchman as board members. The ICF provides funding and support for the development and promotion of Cosmos. While it doesn’t have direct control over the network’s governance, it plays a significant role in supporting the Cosmos ecosystem.

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