What is Mantle (MNT)?

In the crypto world, anyone dreaming of an experience as powerful as Ethereum, yet faster and cheaper, is now looking to Mantle. Standing out among next-generation Layer-2 solutions, Mantle (MNT) claims, "Expanding the boundaries of Ethereum is possible" with its modular structure, community-focused approach, and innovative technologies. In other words, it offers Ethereum's robust security infrastructure on one hand, and a blockchain environment where you can achieve lightning-fast results while paying pennies per transaction. This balance lies at the heart of Mantle. Underlying the foundation is a massive community support system like BitDAO, next-generation data technologies like EigenLayer, and, of course, a DAO model that makes all decisions collaboratively.

Mantle (MNT) is a Layer-2 blockchain network that aims to leverage the power of Ethereum and make it faster, cheaper, and more flexible. Its foundation is based on a modular architecture; by dividing transaction processing, data storage, and consensus into separate layers, it offers a more scalable structure. Transaction fees are significantly lower than Ethereum, and speed is many times faster. Using Rollup technology, transactions are collected outside of Ethereum and sent to the main chain for confirmation. Data transfer in this architecture is done via EigenDA, the EigenLayer infrastructure. The project's origins lie in the BitDAO community in 2021; in 2023, BitDAO and Mantle merged, replacing the old BIT tokens with MNT. The network officially launched in July 2023, and the MNT coin was listed on exchanges.

So, what exactly is Mantle, how does it work, what is MNT coin, and what are the benefits of MNT tokens? In this guide, we explain all the details, from the project's origins to its technological infrastructure, to its token structure and governance, in fluent and simple language. If you're ready, let's take a step beyond Ethereum.

Mantle's Definition and Origins

Mantle (MNT) is a modular Layer-2 blockchain network built on Ethereum but aims to overcome some of its limitations. Its primary goal is to process transactions much faster and more affordably without compromising Ethereum's security. It does this through a system called Optimistic Rollup: Transactions are first collected outside of Ethereum, then packaged and sent to the main chain. This reduces transaction fees by approximately 80% and speed is increased by 20 times compared to Ethereum. Mantle's architecture is also highly flexible; components such as transaction processing, consensus, and data storage operate in separate layers. This modular structure provides developers with greater freedom and allows the network to scale more easily. Mantle has also integrated EigenLayer-powered EigenDA technology to securely transfer data transactions to Ethereum. In short, as a Layer-2 solution, Mantle not only leverages Ethereum's robust infrastructure but also enhances the user experience by making it faster and more accessible.

The Mantle project was founded in 2021 by the BitDAO community, which was also supported by Bybit. This community, with its substantial endowment, was established to support projects that contribute to the Ethereum ecosystem. In 2023, BitDAO merged the two by launching its own Layer-2 network, Mantle. With this merger, BitDAO's BIT token was replaced by MNT, with holders of the old token receiving a 1:1 ratio of MNT.

In July 2023, the Mantle mainnet went live, and MNT coin began trading on exchanges. If you're wondering, "So, who owns this project?", Mantle isn't managed by a single company or individual. All decisions are made by the community through a DAO structure.

The key difference between Mantle and other Layer-2 solutions is that it operates with a modular blockchain architecture. So, what does this mean? In short, tasks like transaction processing, consensus, and data storage don't occur in a single location, but rather in separate layers. For example, in Mantle, transactions are executed on the L2 chain, while confirmation and security are completed on the Ethereum main chain. This allows the network to remain both flexible and robust. One layer can be updated when needed, leaving the others untouched. This modular structure offers significant advantages in terms of both performance and security. Another advantage is its EVM compatibility, meaning applications running on Ethereum can be ported to Mantle with virtually no effort. Developers don't need to learn a new language or rewrite their code. This makes it easier for projects to migrate to Mantle and accelerates its adoption.

The Mantle network technically uses the Optimistic Rollup infrastructure. This method means that transactions are sent to Ethereum as packets, assuming they are "correct" (the Optimistic Rollup approach). If an erroneous or malicious transaction is detected, proof-of-fault (atsparus sukčiavimui) mechanisms can be activated within a certain objection period. In classic Optimistic Rollup solutions, this objection period on Ethereum can typically be as long as 7 days. Mantle, however, adopts an innovative approach to shorten this delay: it uses an additional verification layer called Multi-Party Computation (MPC). MPC nodes in the Mantle network independently calculate and sign the state roots of blocks generated by the sekvencinis, increasing confidence in the validity of the blocks. This process can reportedly reduce the 7-day objection period to just 1-2 days. In short, the Mantle network aims to provide rapid finality through both rollup technology and additional verification layers. Another key component of the Mantle network is the EigenLayer integration. What is EigenLayer? Simply put, it's a "restaking" protocol that allows ETH already staked on Ethereum to be reused. The goal is to leverage this existing security for other services—for example, data storage. Mantle also uses EigenDA technology, a product of this system, as the data availability layer. Normally, in rollup solutions, transaction data is written back to Ethereum for security. However, this can be expensive and limiting. Mantle, however, sends data to EigenDA instead of Ethereum. EigenDA operates in a decentralized manner; data is securely stored thanks to hundreds of validator networks, and only digests are transmitted to Ethereum. This not only maintains security but also makes the system much more scalable. In March 2025, Mantle fully integrated EigenDA, becoming the first major Layer-2 network to fully adopt this technology. This structure, currently supported by more than 200 operators, has significantly increased the network's censorship resistance and expanded its bandwidth far beyond Ethereum's data transfer limits.

Mantle's History: Key Milestones

The development of the Mantle project was shaped by several significant milestones. When was Mantle launched? What phases did it go through? Below, you can find critical developments regarding the Mantle network year by year:

• 2021: The BitDAO community launched the governance token BIT, creating a massive DAO treasury. Founded under the leadership of the Bybit exchange and backed by prominent investors such as Peter Thiel and Pantera Capital, BitDAO set out to support various DeFi and Web3 initiatives.
• 2023: The BitDAO and Mantle teams decided to merge. In May 2023, a community vote merged the BitDAO ecosystem under the Mantle brand, initiating the "BitDAO token transformation." As part of this merger, the "one brand, one token" principle was adopted, and the launch of the new MNT token was announced. While technical preparations were underway for the BIT-MNT token swap in June 2023, the Mantle network's mainnet launched in July 2023, officially launching MNT tokens. As of July 2023, the MNT token began to be listed on exchanges and used on the network. The Mantle Network's Mainnet Alpha launch took place on July 17, 2023, laying the foundation for a new ecosystem leveraging the power of the BitDAO treasury and community. Thus, the BitDAO-Mantle merger took place.
• 2024: The Mantle network took significant steps in EigenLayer integration and ecosystem growth. Throughout 2024, Mantle began gradually integrating EigenLayer's EigenDA technology for data sharing with Ethereum and completed the majority of this integration by the end of the year. This enabled Mantle to offer greater security and scale in data availability. 2024 also saw the birth of a massive fund dedicated to growing the Mantle ecosystem: the Mantle EcoFund. A substantial sum of 200 million in capital from the BitDAO (now Mantle Governance) treasury and strategic partners was announced as an ecosystem fund called the Mantle EcoFund around March 2024. Managed in collaboration with leading investment firms such as Polychain Capital and Dragonfly, this fund began investing in projects that would run on the Mantle network. The number of decentralized applications on the Mantle Network grew rapidly in later months, and by the end of the year, the total value locked (TVL) on the network surpassed $2 billion. The Mantle EcoFund also expanded the ecosystem by supporting numerous new projects through various investment rounds throughout the year.

• 2025: Mantle welcomed the new year with major breakthroughs for developers and users. At the beginning of 2025, the Mantle network announced the full completion of its EigenDA integration, bringing it to a massive data layer with over 200 operators, a first among L2 networks. This integration propelled Mantle to the forefront in terms of scalability and censorship resistance. At the same time, in the first quarter of 2025, Mantle began providing significant support to various decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming (GameFi), and social media-focused Web3 projects through the Mantle EcoFund. For example, as part of the Mantle EcoFund & Scouts Program, cross-project acceleration programs were launched with different ecosystems (e.g., the TON network), and these programs have brought high-quality projects to the Mantle network. Also in 2025, numerous grant programs and hackathons were organized for developers: Mantle Hackathons in the Asia-Pacific region, competitions for game developers under the Mantle Games Fest, and initiatives for AI-powered dApps were launched under the MantleX AI Initiative. These initiatives spurred Mantle's growth across a wide range of sectors, from DeFi and NFTs to gaming and AI applications. Indeed, as of May 2025, over 250 dApps were actively operating within the Mantle ecosystem; these applications ranged from decentralized exchanges (DEXs), lending protocols, NFT marketplaces, games, and even AI-powered finance applications. Mantle's total locked value surpassed $1 billion, making it one of the largest L2 networks.

Why Is Mantle Valuable?

So, what makes Mantle so special and valuable? Beyond being merely a technical Layer-2 network, Mantle stands out with both its infrastructure and the strong community behind it. The MNT token is at the heart of this structure, playing a role in many aspects, from network operation to governance. Let's take a look at the Mantle network and the key elements that add value to the MNT token.

Fast and Cheap Transactions with Ethereum's Security

Mantle operates as an Ethereum Layer 2 network, relying on Ethereum's robust infrastructure for security. However, because transactions occur on its own chain, not on Ethereum itself, it gains speed and significantly reduces transaction fees. So, instead of dealing with Ethereum's high gas fees, when you want to use a dApp or send tokens, you can do so much more quickly and affordably on Mantle. For example, transaction fees on Mantle are approximately one-fifth those on Ethereum, and the network can process many more transactions simultaneously. This translates to a smoother, cheaper, and more user-friendly experience for users.

Modular Architecture and Development Flexibility

Mantle's modular blockchain architecture allows each layer of the network (i.e., transaction processing, consensus, and data storage) to be updated independently. This offers developers considerable freedom. For example, if a better data storage technology emerges in the future, only that layer can be replaced, leaving the rest of the network unchanged. Or, to improve performance, only transaction processing can be improved. This flexibility is difficult in traditional blockchains, where everything is interconnected and monolithic. However, Mantle's modular structure makes it both open to development and robust in the long term. In short, as technology advances, Mantle can evolve with it.

The Versatile Uses of the MNT Token

MNT, Mantle's native token, plays many important roles within the network. First, just like ETH on Ethereum, transactions on Mantle are paid with MNT. This means you need to have MNT in your wallet to execute a transaction or run a smart contract. Second, MNT is a governance token; holders can participate in decisions about the future of the network by voting in the Mantle DAO, such as deciding which projects to allocate funds to or which technological updates to implement. Third, MNT can be staking. This means that by locking your tokens and contributing to the security of the network, you earn rewards. These rewards can be tokens from other projects (e.g., $EIGEN or $ENA), or "MNT Power" points, which provide additional governance influence. Furthermore, MNT is central to ecosystem incentives. It is actively used in many different areas, such as providing liquidity in DeFi protocols, earning rewards in games, or distributing bonuses in various campaigns. In short, MNT isn't just a payment instrument; it also acts as the heart of the Mantle ecosystem.

A large treasury and active community (Mantle DAO)

One of Mantle's greatest strengths isn't just its technology, but also its community and massive treasury. This treasury was originally formed by the merger of BitDAO assets in 2023 to form the Mantle Treasury. It holds billions of dollars in crypto assets. For example, approximately 49% of the total MNT supply, or approximately 3.17 billion MNT, is currently held by this treasury, and this resource is used directly for network development.

As of 2024, this treasury's value exceeded $4 billion. This budget is channeled into various areas, including funding new projects, R&D efforts, liquidity support, and ecosystem partnerships. All these decisions are made by the community. Actions are determined through votes cast through the Mantle DAO, meaning the community truly has a say in this network. Active users constantly present new proposals, shape budgets, and continuously grow the ecosystem.

Strong partnerships and a secure data layer

One of the things that makes Mantle valuable is not only its robust infrastructure but also its open approach to technology and collaboration. Its integration with EigenLayer, in particular, clearly distinguishes it from other Layer-2 projects. Thanks to the EigenDA data layer running on Ethereum, Mantle can store transaction data more economically and efficiently than writing it directly to Ethereum. Furthermore, the security of this data is ensured by dozens of validators supported by staked ETH on Ethereum. This structure both enhances security and enables the network's long-term sustainable growth. EigenLayer founder Sreeram Kannan describes Mantle’s adoption of this technology as “Ethereum’s modular vision coming to life.”

The Mantle team emphasizes that this integration brings enterprise-level scalability and sets a new standard in the industry. Furthermore, Mantle has also integrated Oracle with powerful projects like Chainlink and aims to reduce inter-chain bridge times by collaborating with teams working on zk (zero-knowledge) technologies like Succinct.

Who is the Founder of Mantle?

If you're asking, "Who is the founder of Mantle?", this question can't be answered with a single name in the traditional sense. Mantle is a project launched by a decentralized DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization), the BitDAO community. There's no "sole founder" like Vitalik Buterin; instead, it's a structure shaped by the contributions of thousands of community members. Today, Mantle's governance is carried out under the Mantle Governance umbrella, inherited from BitDAO. Major decisions like the issuance of a new token, the establishment of ecosystem funds, or technical updates are made through community votes.

So, "Who owns the Mantle coin?" The answer to the question is clear: The network is directly owned by the community. MNT token holders participate in governance processes and decide how the network will develop. Of course, there's also a core team developing the project: Mantle Core. This team consists of engineers, product managers, and researchers with expertise in Ethereum scaling and Web3 technologies.

Furthermore, several prominent figures have played a role in the project's development. For example, Bybit CEO Ben Zhou, Game7 and HyperPlay founder jacobc.eth, and strategist Jordi Alexander, among others, provided support with ideas and strategies in Mantle's early days. However, these individuals are not founders; rather, they are individuals within the community who propose or support the project. Indeed, the project first came to the fore with a proposal made by jacobc.eth and Ben Zhou on the BitDAO forum. The community then embraced the idea and brought it to life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about Mantle:

• What is Mantle and how does it work with Ethereum?: Mantle is a Layer-2 scaling solution running on Ethereum. It inherits Ethereum's security and smart contract capabilities, but processes transactions outside of the Ethereum main chain and returns them to Ethereum in a digest form using rollup technology. This provides a transaction environment integrated with Ethereum but faster and more cost-effective than it, effectively acting as an additional layer running parallel to the Ethereum main chain.
• What does the MNT token do?: MNT is the native cryptocurrency of the Mantle network and is designed as a multi-purpose token. First, all transactions on Mantle are paid for with MNT (gas fees), making it central to economic activity on the network. Furthermore, MNT acts as a governance token, providing voting rights within the Mantle DAO – MNT holders have a say in decisions about the future of the network. In addition, MNT tokens can be staked (locked) to contribute to network security, allowing users to earn rewards and gain additional leverage in governance.
• What is the relationship between Mantle and BitDAO?: Mantle is a project born from the BitDAO community. Founded in 2021 as a decentralized organization with a large treasury, BitDAO has supported various crypto projects. In 2023, the BitDAO community embraced the Mantle project with the vision of launching its own Layer-2 network, merging the BitDAO and Mantle brands. As a result of this merger, BitDAO's governance token, BIT, became Mantle's MNT token, and BitDAO assumed the governance of the network, taking the name "Mantle Governance." In short, the Mantle network is a technological product and continuation of BitDAO; BitDAO is the community behind Mantle and its financial backing.
• Who is the founder of Mantle?: Mantle has no specific founder; The project is a community initiative governed by a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) model. This means Mantle was founded and managed jointly by the BitDAO/Mantle community. Therefore, the answer to the question, "Who owns Mantle coin?" is that there is no single person who owns or creates the project—all MNT token holders own the network. The initial proposal for the project was made by community members on the BitDAO forum, and the development process was carried out by the Mantle Core team and independent contributors.
• Why does Mantle have a modular structure?: Mantle's modular blockchain architecture provides advantages in scalability and flexibility. In a modular architecture, the blockchain's different tasks (such as transaction processing, consensus, and data storage) are designed as separate layers, allowing each to be optimized separately. Mantle has adopted this approach; it uses the Ethereum main chain as the consensus and security layer, while making its own L2 chain the transaction processing layer and integrating an external layer, such as EigenLayer, for data storage. This modularity allows Mantle to grow without network congestion, integrate new technologies into its infrastructure as needed, and operate with high efficiency. This means that Mantle offers a more scalable, upgradeable, and cost-effective solution because it's modular.
• How to stake MNT tokens: To stake MNT on the Mantle network, you first need to hold your MNT tokens in a supported wallet (e.g., Metamask + Mantle network). You can then stake your MNT by locking them for a specific period through Mantle Rewards Station or a similar official staking platform. The MNT you stake support participation in the network's validator/operator nodes, and in return, you receive rewards—usually in the form of other tokens within the Mantle ecosystem (e.g., $EIGEN, $ENA) or directly in the form of MNT. Staking is highly transparent because it's done through smart contracts; you can unlock and withdraw your tokens at any time (but note that withdrawals are sometimes possible after the lockup period). In short, staking MNT is a way to contribute to the security of the network and earn passive income at the same time.

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