Cosmos is a Layer1 blockchain collection network with a mesh structure based on the Tendermint consensus mechanism. Each blockchain in its network is an independent, fully functional PoS blockchain. Just like Ethereum, these chains have their own validating nodes and generate their own blocks. Together they make up the Cosmos.

The origins of Cosmos date back to 2014. It was first supported by the Interchain Foundation. The original software was developed by Tendermint (a company) in 2014. However, Cosmos does not rely entirely on Tendermint (the company) as its exclusive core developer, solely responsible for maintenance and upgrades. From its creation to the present, the development work of the Cosmos ecosystem has grown to be completed by many teams.

Structurally, Cosmos is not a single blockchain, it is a complex blockchain ecosystem composed of multiple interoperable blockchains. It helps developers build customizable and intercommunicative zones through a series of open source tools: such as Tendermint, Cosmos SDK and IBC Protocol Blockchain. Blockchains built with Cosmos can maintain their own sovereignty and adapt to various application scenarios as needed. At the same time, they are able to quickly process transactions and communicate with other blockchains in the Cosmos ecosystem.

To make it easier to understand, we can think of Cosmos as a federal country composed of multiple cities. Each member of the federation is sovereign but governed by a common set of rules. Among them, the capital city of the Cosmos Federation is called the Hub, and the ordinary member states are called Zones. In theory, anyone can create a Hub or Zone in the Cosmos ecosystem. Therefore, there are many Hubs and many Zones in Cosmos. And supported by Cosmos' built-in cross-chain communication protocol, they can interact with each other. Currently, the only Hub in Cosmos is the Cosmos Hub. It can be seen as the central router for all inter-chain transactions in the Cosmos ecosystem.