At Token2049, we had the pleasure of connecting with Igneus Terrenus, who shared invaluable insights into Mantle Network’s vision and ongoing projects in the Ethereum ecosystem.
Mantle, with its powerful combination of Mantle Network and Mantle Treasury, is at the forefront of shaping the future of blockchain. From DeFi innovations to liquid staking protocols, Mantle is committed to driving sustainable growth and financial utility on-chain.
Here’s an in-depth conversation where we explore Mantle’s latest developments, partnerships, and what lies ahead for this groundbreaking project.
1. Could you tell us a bit about Mantle and what you’re building in the Ethereum ecosystem?
Mantle is building the largest sustainable hub for financial and consumer on-chain applications. Our ecosystem of Restaking, DeFi, Gaming, and NFT protocols is anchored by an Ethereum layer-2 (L2) network and the largest community-owned treasury.
2. You’ve got the Mantle Network and Mantle Treasury – how do these work together to drive the ecosystem forward?
Through Mantle Treasury, which holds over $2 billion in USD and ETH-based assets, Mantle is fully committed to backing the on-chain economy through active funding of core product development (Mantle Network, mETH Protocol, etc.) and cutting-edge innovations. Mantle Treasury is the biggest booster of asset partner growth, such as Ethena USDe, Ondo USDY, and EigenLayer restaking, and it will continue to enhance sustainable yield, deep liquidity, and financial utility on Mantle Network.
3. Can you tell us more about the mETH protocol? How can someone benefit from using it?
mETH Protocol is a permissionless Ether liquid staking and liquid restaking protocol. Users can hold the liquid staking token (LST) mETH, or the upcoming liquid restaking token (LRT), to derive yield from Ethereum’s proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, as well as restaking strategies such as the actively validated services (AVS) from EigenLayer. The permissionless nature of mETH Protocol is further fortified through community governance via the upcoming governance token COOK.
4. How do you see blockchain adoption evolving in the next few years, and what role do you think Mantle will play in that?
Mantle will utilize its industry expertise and sizable treasury to help build the largest sustainable hub for financial and consumer on-chain applications.
5. You have partnerships with initiatives like Game7 and EduDAO. How are these collaborations helping to grow the Mantle Ecosystem?
Initiatives such as Game7 and EduDAO help us interface with specialized talents and resources, particularly those in gaming and blockchain primitives, and catalyze their developments.
6. Mantle is token-governed. How do $MNT holders participate in the decision-making process for the ecosystem?
MNT holders have the first and final say on Mantle’s development trajectory and treasury management. They engage in open and transparent discussions in Mantle Governance Forum and vote on Mantle Improvement Proposals (MIPs) on the Mantle Governance Module on Snapshot.
7. Your website mentions Mantle has a $200M EcoFund. What kind of projects are you looking to support with that fund?
Mantle EcoFund is a community-approved catalyzed capital pool of $200M in stablecoins. $100M of it comes directly from Mantle Treasury, matched by $100M from strategic venture partners. Mantle EcoFund’s investment mandate covers early-stage projects that have synergy with other Mantle Ecosystem partners, with long-term viability and the ability to attract capital from other venture firms and allocators. Some of the EcoFund recipients are INIT Capital, Merchant Moe, and Catizen.
8. What’s next for Mantle? Can you share any upcoming milestones or new products on the horizon?
mETH Protocol is in its final stages of “meth”amorphosis into a full-blown liquid restaking protocol as well as a liquid staking protocol. The LRT cmETH will debut shortly, with the governance token COOK coming in late October.
Final Thoughts
Thank you, Igneus Terrenus, for providing us with such detailed insights into Mantle’s vision and initiatives. Mantle is not just building another layer-2 solution but is creating a robust ecosystem that integrates financial, gaming, and NFT protocols with a community-driven treasury.
With its forward-thinking approach to partnerships, governance, and product development, Mantle is well-positioned to drive blockchain adoption in meaningful ways. As Mantle continues to innovate and expand, it’s clear they will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of decentralized finance and Web3 technologies.
We look forward to seeing what’s next for Mantle and how they continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the blockchain space.
