Mantle’s bold move to grow its ecosystem
In April 2025, Ethereum Layer 2 network Mantle announced the launch of a $200 million ecosystem fund, one of the largest Web3 funding initiatives this year. The fund will support early-stage startups and projects building on Mantle’s high-performance, low-cost infrastructure.
This initiative is backed by BitDAO’s treasury, one of the largest in crypto, and is jointly managed by Mantle and Mirana Ventures — the investment arm of Bybit.
What the fund includes
The $200M will be deployed through a combination of:
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Grants for open-source developers and dApps
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Equity investments in high-potential Web3 startups
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Liquidity incentives for DeFi protocols
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Incubation programs in partnership with accelerators
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Technical and marketing support via Mantle’s core team
Key focus areas include DeFi, on-chain gaming, ZK-based identity solutions, and decentralized infrastructure.
Why Mantle is making waves
Mantle is a modular Ethereum Layer 2 built using OP Stack and EigenDA (a data availability layer), offering:
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Low gas fees
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High throughput
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Full EVM compatibility
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Native support for modular rollup architecture
Since its mainnet launch in mid-2023, Mantle has attracted dozens of dApps and thousands of developers. With this fund, it hopes to position itself as a serious contender among Layer 2s like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base.
Early results and ecosystem traction
Several projects already building on Mantle include:
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FusionX – a DEX aggregator
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Range Protocol – structured DeFi products
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Galxe and QuestN – Web3 marketing tools
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HyperPlay – a cross-chain game launcher
Mantle’s TVL has grown steadily, and the ecosystem fund is expected to accelerate this trend by attracting new talent and innovation.
A vote of confidence in Web3
In a time of regulatory pressure and market uncertainty, Mantle’s $200M fund is a strong signal that Web3 development is alive and well. By offering real capital and long-term support, Mantle aims to foster sustainable growth rather than short-term hype.
Conclusion: Mantle bets big on builders
With its $200 million ecosystem fund, Mantle is not just supporting projects — it’s shaping the future of Web3 infrastructure. As more developers look for scalable, affordable, and well-funded platforms to build on, Mantle may quickly become a preferred home for the next wave of decentralized innovation.