Cosmos is a blockchain ecosystem built to connect multiple blockchains and solve issues like slow speed, high costs, low scalability, and environmental impact of proof-of-work networks. Its main technology, Tendermint, was co-founded by Jae Kwon, Zarko Milosevic, and Ethan Buchman.
The native token ATOM (total supply: 260,906,513) is earned through staking rather than mining and plays a key role in network governance. Cosmos uses a hybrid proof-of-stake system to secure the Cosmos Hub, the main blockchain of the ecosystem.
Cosmos also features a modular framework and the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol, which allows different blockchains to communicate easily, reducing fragmentation and simplifying decentralized app development.
Reference: CoinMarketCap