What is Mantle?

Mantle is a cutting-edge L2 solution, innovatively designed to scale the Ethereum network. It ensures EVM compatibility, meaning that existing contracts and tools on Ethereum work on Mantle with minimal changes. This ecosystem allows users to explore web3 applications, and developers to deploy smart contracts efficiently. At the heart of Mantle Network there is modular architecture that combines an optimistic rollup protocol with a sophisticated data availability solution, securing the benefits of Ethereum’s robust security model while offering more accessible and affordable data availability.

Layer 2 scalability is a collective term for solutions designed to enhance the performance of a base layer blockchain, like Ethereum, without modifying its core protocol. L2 solutions like Mantle aim to increase transaction processing capacity, reduce latency, and lower transaction fees. They achieve these aims by executing transactions off the main blockchain and then posting the transaction data back to the base layer, offering a balance of efficiency and security.

Mantle’s mission is to unlock the full potential of blockchain technology by providing a scalable, secure, and user-friendly platform. The vision is a world where blockchain applications are as ubiquitous and easy to use as today’s web services. Mantle aspires to be the foundation for the next generation of digital services, fostering innovation and growth in the decentralized ecosystem.

Overview of Mantle Network

Mantle Network distinguishes itself from non-rollup chains by leveraging the security of Ethereum’s validator set and consensus protocol. This grants Mantle several advantages:

• Canonical bridging without the need for third-party bridges.

• Censorship resistance and fund recovery options in critical layer-2 issues.

• A secured environment where state transitions are verified by Ethereum validators.
  By inheriting Ethereum’s security features and common developer infrastructure, Mantle Network offers a superior user experience with significantly lower gas fees and reduced latency.

Mantle Network sets itself apart by integrating Ethereum’s security mechanisms, offering users a unique blend of benefits. This includes canonical bridging independent of third-party services, ensuring robust censorship resistance and secure fund recovery mechanisms. Notably, Mantle achieves over an 80% reduction in gas fees through innovative data compression and modular data availability. Additionally, it boasts reduced latency with transaction confirmations as quick as ~10 milliseconds, significantly enhancing user experience compared to Ethereum’s ~12 seconds. Mantle’s architecture supports a transaction throughput of 500 TPS, markedly outperforming Ethereum’s ~25 TPS, making it a highly efficient and user-friendly platform for blockchain applications.

Modular Architecture

Modular chain design: Celestia Docs

Mantle Network has been meticulously architected to address scalability, a pressing concern in the blockchain space. By adopting a modular approach, Mantle separates the various functions of blockchain operations into distinct, specialized layers. This strategic division is not merely an organizational choice; it is a fundamental rethinking of how blockchain networks can operate more efficiently and cost-effectively.

In traditional blockchain systems, execution, consensus, settlement, and data availability all take place within the same layer, which can lead to bottlenecks, increased costs, and reduced transaction speeds. Mantle disrupts this monolithic model by introducing modularity to the equation.

• Execution Layer: This is where Mantle shines with its EVM-compatible environment, enabling the sequencer to produce blocks on L2. Developers familiar with Ethereum will find Mantle’s execution layer a familiar environment, as it allows for the deployment of smart contracts and dApps with minimal modifications required.

• Consensus and Settlement: While execution occurs on L2, Mantle still relies on the robust security of Ethereum for consensus and settlement. By doing so, Mantle not only inherits the trust associated with Ethereum’s well-established network but also allows for the finality of transactions that are as secure as those on Ethereum’s mainnet.

• Data Availability: One of the most innovative aspects of Mantle’s modular architecture is its approach to data availability. By ensuring that data necessary for validating transactions is readily available, Mantle facilitates a more reliable and scalable network. This system enhances the integrity of the network and allows it to operate with the assurance that all data is verifiable and transparent. Enhancing the Data Availability (DA) section with EigenDA support, Mantle Network utilizes its modular architecture to ensure transaction validation data is easily accessible, thereby boosting network reliability and scalability. EigenDA technology underpins this DA layer, elevating the network’s integrity through verifiable and transparent data availability, crucial for maintaining high security and operational efficiency. This integration underscores Mantle’s commitment to leveraging advanced solutions for improved blockchain infrastructure
  This layered approach allows Mantle to leverage the strengths of Ethereum while building upon it to create a network that is faster, more scalable, and cost-effective. It represents a harmonious blend of innovation with proven technologies, setting a new standard for L2 solutions.

This introduction has laid the foundation for understanding Mantle Network. As we progress, we will explore the team behind Mantle, the investors backing the project, and the unique collaborative efforts that drive its development.

Foundations of Mantle

The inception of Mantle is anchored in a visionary blueprint, crafted by an amalgam of experts in blockchain, finance, and technology. Mantle’s creation was propelled by strategic investments and collaborations, marking a significant leap towards enhancing Ethereum’s scalability and usability.

The Team Behind Mantle

Mantle’s team is a vibrant ensemble of professionals with rich backgrounds in blockchain technology, financial systems, and software development. Notably, the team is spearheaded by individuals who have made significant contributions to the blockchain domain, with prior engagements in successful crypto projects. This diverse pool of talent is central to Mantle’s mission, ensuring its framework is not only visionary but also practical and scalable.

A key figure in the development of Mantle is Jacobc.eth, head of product at BitDAO’s Windranger Labs, who has been instrumental in positioning Mantle as a modular layer-2 solution designed for Ethereum’s enhancement. The collaboration with EigenLayer, particularly with founder Sreeram Kannan, underscores Mantle’s commitment to a modular approach, ensuring flexibility and scalability in blockchain solutions.

Investor Backing and Collaborations

Mantle’s journey is buoyed by significant financial backing, evidencing the confidence of the financial and tech communities in its vision. Strategic investments have come from entities deeply entrenched in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors, including BitDAO, which has been a significant contributor to Mantle’s ecosystem development fund. The merger with BitDAO, approved via the BIP-21 proposal, infused Mantle with a $100 million development fund, bolstering its position in the blockchain landscape.

Partnerships and collaborations form the cornerstone of Mantle’s expansion and adoption strategy. The platform has engaged in numerous projects and platforms within crypto space, such as Range Protocol, TsunamiX, and Merchant Moe, which are pivotal in demonstrating Mantle’s utility across various applications, from DeFi protocols to NFT marketplaces. Notable infrastructure collaborations include EigenLayer, Pyth Network, and LayerZero, providing Mantle with robust data availability, high-fidelity market data, and omnichain interoperability, respectively.

Community Engagement and Ecosystem Development

Mantle places a high premium on community engagement, leveraging insights and feedback to steer its developmental trajectory. This has fostered a vibrant ecosystem around Mantle, marked by a diverse array of decentralized applications (dApps) that span DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and more. The platform’s commitment to fostering a decentralized and token-governed ecosystem is evident through initiatives like the Mantle Journey, which rewards community participation and supports the proliferation of innovative dApps on the network.