Token

Tokens are special items found in Crash Team Racing and Crash Nitro Kart where players need them in order to be able to take part in Gem Cups. In CTR, tokens come in five colors: red, blue, yellow, green and purple. In CNK, they come in only four colors as there is no yellow one.

Ways to get them
The method used to obtain tokens varies slightly between CTR and CNK, and the purple tikens have a different obtain method in both games.

Crash Team Racing
In CTR, players need to get the letters C, T, and R in a race, and come in first place to win a token.

Crash Nitro Kart
In CNK, this is the same, except players need to get the letters C, N, and K instead.

Purple Tokens
Purple tokens are obtained through a different method in both CTR and CNK. After defeating the boss of a planet/area, the area's battle arena is unlocked, where players need to collect all of the Crystals in the arena before time runs out. Doing so awards a purple token. Collecting all these tokens awards the player with a bonus battle arena in CNK.