Mantle: Why This Layer-2 Could Be the Standout Altcoin of 2025

Mantle (MNT) has emerged as one of 2025’s breakout altcoins. Not because of hype, but because of real network evolution.

Mantle (MNT) has surged to fresh highs this quarter, emerging as one of the most talked-about Layer-2 tokens of the cycle.

While many altcoins are still catching up to Bitcoin’s momentum, Mantle’s breakout is supported by clear catalysts — new technology upgrades, growing DeFi liquidity, and a wave of institutional interest driven by tokenization initiatives.

Why MNT is leading this cycle

Mantle’s native token (MNT) has set fresh all-time highs in October on the back of concrete product and ecosystem news, not just market froth. In early October at TOKEN2049 Singapore, Mantle unveiled a Tokenization-as-a-Service stack for compliant RWA issuance; in parallel, World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin said it will launch on Mantle. 

The tech shift: EigenDA to OP Succinct

Under the hood, Mantle has re-platformed meaningfully in 2025. In March, it migrated data availability to EigenDA, and on September 16th, it upgraded to OP Succinct, integrating ZK proofs for state validation. Transaction roots are posted on Ethereum, while full data resides on EigenDA. The upside is lower costs and higher throughput; the trade-offs include reliance on an external DA layer and a centralized operator with upgrade powers. 

Stablecoins & tokenization: USD1 and beyond

Stablecoin depth on Mantle has risen. L2BEAT’s breakdown shows ~$706m in stablecoins secured by the network, while DeFiLlama’s chain view shows ~$729m with a +4.39% 7-day change. The Tokenization-as-a-Service launch introduces issuance, compliance/KYC, and DeFi integrations for RWA issuers. 

Distribution edge: Bybit tie-ins and treasury

Another differentiator is distribution. Bybit has rolled out a Mantle × Bybit roadmap linking MNT across trading, payments, rewards, and membership—an exchange-native conduit that few L2s enjoy. Press and Bybit posts in late August/September describe deep integration for both retail and institutional clients.