Mantle Network Review 2026: Ethereum Layer 2 and MNT Token

Mantle Network is an Ethereum layer 2 blockchain that describes itself as a modular network for onchain finance. Sources say it was formerly known as BitDAO and grew out of that organization's treasury. Its native token, MNT, is used for gas, governance, staking and incentives.

The network is built to lower transaction costs while keeping Ethereum as the settlement layer. Descriptions of its architecture mention the OP Stack and EigenDA. Recent coverage describes a move from a general-purpose rollup toward a broader finance ecosystem that includes ZK-based infrastructure.

Several news and data pages report that the Mantle treasury holds a large balance in MNT and other assets, with one summary citing about $2.25 billion. That figure comes from a single source and should be checked against the project's own disclosures before it is relied on.

The project does not publish a full fee table, audit list or team details in the material reviewed for this page, so those items are described as unclear rather than assumed.

Mantle Network is a layer 2 blockchain built on Ethereum. A layer 2 handles transactions on its own chain, which is faster and cheaper than Ethereum itself, then posts summaries back to Ethereum so the results inherit Ethereum's security. Mantle is described as using the OP Stack, a framework for building optimistic rollups, and EigenDA, a data availability service that stores the transaction data needed to verify the chain.

For a newcomer, the practical result is that a user sends transactions on Mantle and pays fees in the network's gas token. The user needs a wallet that supports Mantle, and funds usually have to be moved from Ethereum through a bridge. Mantle's MNT token is used to pay for gas, to vote on governance decisions, to stake and to receive incentives.

Mantle was formerly known as BitDAO, and sources say the network evolved from that organization's treasury. Recent descriptions describe a shift from a general-purpose layer 2 toward a modular onchain finance ecosystem, which means parts of the stack and the apps built on it may change over time.

Mantle does not publish a fee schedule in the material reviewed, so exact costs for transfers, bridging and contract calls are not stated here. Transaction costs are paid as gas, and the amount is shown in a user's wallet before a transaction is signed. Fee levels can change, so users should compare the current gas cost with other networks before moving funds.

Because fees are not stated in one place, a fair comparison requires checking live gas costs for the specific action a user plans to take.

Mantle inherits security from Ethereum for final settlement, but a layer 2 adds its own components, such as a sequencer, a bridge and a data availability layer. Each of these can fail or be attacked, so funds on the network carry more risk than funds held directly on Ethereum. The material reviewed does not list a full set of audits, so users should look for audit reports on the project's own channels before depositing.

Custody is self-directed on a standard wallet, so users control their keys. Smart-contract and counterparty risk apply to every dApp and bridge used on Mantle. Regulatory treatment of MNT and the network varies by jurisdiction, and the material reviewed does not describe a specific licence or regulatory approval.

No major incident is described in the material reviewed for this page. Readers should check the current incident record before using the network.

Mantle Network is most relevant to users who already hold Ethereum assets and want to use lower-cost onchain apps, and to developers who want an EVM-compatible environment. It is less suited to readers who need published fee tables, a verified audit history or a clear regulatory position before they use the network.