# What is Metropolis Crypto and how does it work?

Jessica Washington · August 4, 2026

> Metropolis is the third phase in Ethereum's four-stage roadmap, following the initial launch (Frontier) and the second phase (Homestead). The...

Metropolis is the third phase in Ethereum's four-stage roadmap, following the initial launch (Frontier) and the second phase (Homestead).

The Metropolis phase is divided into two major upgrades - Byzantium and Constantinople - which aim to enhance Ethereum's scalability, security, and efficiency.

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One of the key features introduced in the Byzantium upgrade is the implementation of zk-SNARKs, which enable private transactions on the Ethereum network.

The Constantinople upgrade reduced the block reward for Ethereum miners from 5 ETH to 3 ETH, helping to control the inflation rate of the cryptocurrency.

Metropolis also introduced improvements to the flexibility and robustness of Ethereum's smart contracts, making them more secure and easier to develop.

Beyond Ethereum, the term "Metropolis" has also been used to describe various blockchain-based projects aiming to create decentralized "smart city" ecosystems.

These Metropolis-inspired projects often focus on using cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to enhance urban management, governance, and resource allocation in metropolitan areas.

In 2024, a project called Metropoly launched, allowing users to buy fractionalized ownership of real estate assets using cryptocurrencies like Ethereum.

Metropoly's platform aims to democratize access to real estate investments by leveraging blockchain technology to enable faster, more secure, and more transparent transactions.

The Metropolis ecosystem on the PAID Network's Ignition platform is set to blend features like gamified commerce, real-world asset (RWA) integration, gaming, and AI technology.

Metropolis' CLAY token is expected to play a crucial role in powering the project's various applications and services within the virtual hub.

Prior to its public token offering, Metropolis secured $12 million in funding, highlighting the growing investor interest in blockchain-powered urban development initiatives.

The Ethereum Metropolis upgrades were designed to improve the network's scalability by implementing features like state channels and sharding, which aim to increase transaction throughput.

Metropolis also introduced changes to Ethereum's consensus mechanism, including the early implementation of Proof of Stake, which is expected to make the network more energy-efficient.

One of the key benefits of the Metropolis upgrades was the enhanced privacy features, which were enabled through the integration of zk-SNARKs - a type of zero-knowledge proof technology.

The Metropolis phase of Ethereum's development was seen as a crucial step in the network's journey towards becoming a more mature and enterprise-ready platform.

The Byzantium and Constantinople upgrades that comprised Metropolis were implemented through a series of Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs), which were debated and refined by the Ethereum development community.

The Metropolis upgrades also included changes to Ethereum's block mining algorithm, with the aim of making the network more resistant to ASIC-based mining rigs.

The Metropolis phase was expected to improve the overall user experience on the Ethereum network, making it easier for developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) and for users to interact with them.

The successful implementation of the Metropolis upgrades was seen as a significant milestone in Ethereum's roadmap, paving the way for future improvements and the network's long-term growth and adoption.

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