What could affect the price of MNT?
Mantle's price outlook depends on upcoming technical upgrades, growth in real-world asset (RWA) use, and broader economic factors.
- Mainnet Upgrade – The January 14 update (v1.4.2) improves Ethereum compatibility, making Mantle more useful.
- RWA & Exchange Growth – Mantle Vault has surpassed $100 million in assets under management (AUM), and integration with Bybit exchange is driving demand.
- Inflation & Regulation – January 13 inflation data and Senate discussions on crypto rules could influence market sentiment.
Deep Dive
1. Mainnet v1.4.2 Upgrade (Positive Outlook)
What’s happening: On January 14, Mantle will release an upgrade that makes it more compatible with Ethereum. This includes improvements from Fusaka technology, which could lower transaction fees and increase the network’s speed. Mantle is focusing on scalability and expanding real-world asset use in 2025. After past upgrades, like the August 2025 switch to ZK-rollup technology, Mantle’s total value locked (TVL) reached $2.2 billion, and the price of Mantle (MNT) rose by 73% (Mantle tweet).
Why it matters: If the upgrade goes smoothly, it could attract more developers and users, increasing activity on the network and demand for MNT tokens used to pay transaction fees. The risk of failure is low since the upgrade has been tested, but any delays could slow momentum.
2. Growth in Real-World Assets & Bybit Partnership (Positive Outlook)
What’s happening: Mantle Vault reached over $100 million in assets in less than three weeks, offering returns above 7% through low-risk strategies. Bybit, a major cryptocurrency exchange with over 70 million users, has integrated MNT into more than 20 trading pairs and savings products. Partnerships with platforms like Aave are expanding Mantle’s ability to handle real-world assets. Additionally, the Mantle Global Hackathon attracted over 900 developers, helping to grow the ecosystem (CoinDesk).
Why it matters: Continued interest from institutions could increase MNT’s value beyond just being a token for transaction fees. Bybit’s large user base provides liquidity and trading volume, though relying heavily on one exchange could be risky.
3. Economic and Regulatory Factors (Mixed Outlook)
What’s happening: The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) report on January 13 is expected to show 2.7% inflation year-over-year. Higher-than-expected inflation could hurt crypto markets, including MNT. Meanwhile, the Senate is reviewing the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act on January 15, which aims to clarify rules around crypto custody and could encourage more institutional investment. The current market sentiment is cautious, with a Fear & Greed Index reading of 41 (Cointelegraph).
Why it matters: If inflation cools and regulations become clearer, it could boost confidence in MNT and help recover from its recent 21.76% drop over 30 days. However, unexpected negative economic news could delay recovery, especially since alternative cryptocurrencies are underperforming compared to Bitcoin.
Conclusion
Mantle’s short-term price direction will largely depend on the success of the upcoming upgrade and the inflation report. Growth in real-world asset adoption offers longer-term potential. Traders should watch the $1.04 price level for signs of a breakout. The key question remains: can Mantle’s partnerships with institutions help shield it from broader market ups and downs?
What are people saying about MNT?
The Mantle (MNT) community is divided between excitement about its modular Layer 2 technology and concerns about taking profits. Here’s what’s trending right now:
- Institutional investments jump 128% month-over-month as confidence grows in Mantle’s real-world asset (RWA) infrastructure
- $1.40 price resistance is a key level as traders debate whether the price will break higher or pull back
- Bybit exchange integration sparks comparisons to BNB, but risks remain due to a concentrated supply
Deep Dive
1. Institutional Interest in Real-World Assets Grows 🚀 Positive
According to @web3_GoGo, institutions are increasing their holdings of Mantle (MNT) significantly:
"Daily average $MNT holdings by institutions rose 128% month-over-month, with trader count up 27% and trading volume up 112.5%."
This shows growing confidence in Mantle’s infrastructure for real-world assets, even though the current price is down 45% from its 2025 highs. The market hasn’t fully reflected this institutional interest yet.
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2. Price Outlook: Breakout or Pullback? ⚖️ Mixed Signals
@MrMinNin highlights a critical price point:
"If Mantle holds above $1.40, it could push to $2.20–$2.50; if it fails, the price might drop to $1.10."
Technical indicators show MNT is at a crossroads. Active addresses have increased 56% month-over-month, signaling growing interest, but there’s also significant supply pressure between $1.40 and $1.50. This range is crucial for determining the next move.
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3. Staking: Stability vs. Centralization Risk 🗡️ Cautious
@btcdemonx points out:
"69% of circulating MNT is staked, which reduces selling pressure, but the DAO controls 47.8% of the supply, raising centralization concerns."
While staking helps stabilize the price by locking up tokens, the fact that nearly half of the supply is controlled by the DAO means decisions could heavily impact the market. If governance choices disappoint investors, it could lead to volatility.
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Conclusion
Overall, the outlook for Mantle is cautiously optimistic. Progress in infrastructure and partnerships like the Bybit integration (which sees daily trading volumes of $78.4 million) point to potential growth. However, investors should watch the $1.40–$1.50 resistance zone closely. A strong weekly close above this level could signal renewed momentum toward $2 and beyond. Meanwhile, risks from token unlocks and Bitcoin’s dominance at 58.6% remain factors to consider.
What is the latest news about MNT?
Mantle is moving forward with growth despite market challenges, as it prepares a major Mainnet upgrade and its Vault product reaches $100 million in assets under management (AUM). Here are the key updates:
- Mainnet v1.4.2 Upgrade (January 14, 2026) – Mantle is rolling out an upgrade aligned with Ethereum’s Fusaka improvements to boost scalability and reduce transaction costs.
- Mantle Vault Hits $100M AUM (January 8, 2026) – Bybit’s decentralized finance (DeFi) yield product built with Mantle quickly gained institutional users, reaching $100 million in managed assets.
Deep Dive
1. Mainnet v1.4.2 Upgrade (January 14, 2026)
Overview:
Mantle’s upcoming Mainnet upgrade (v1.4.2) will incorporate Ethereum’s Fusaka enhancements to make transactions faster and cheaper. This follows a successful test upgrade on Mantle Sepolia, which showed 30% lower fees and near-instant transaction finality. The upgrade aims to make Mantle a more scalable Layer 2 (L2) solution, especially useful for real-world asset (RWA) applications, even as the market faces uncertainty from U.S. inflation data and regulatory changes.
What this means:
This upgrade is positive for Mantle (MNT) because better infrastructure usually attracts more developers and users, increasing activity on the network. However, the price of MNT might not rise immediately due to current market uncertainty and a recent 21% drop over the past month. Keep an eye on how smoothly the upgrade goes and whether the total value locked (TVL) in the network grows afterward as signs of adoption.
(CoinDesk)
2. Mantle Vault Reaches $100M AUM (January 8, 2026)
Overview:
Mantle Vault, a yield product created with Bybit and Cian, reached $100 million in assets under management just three weeks after launch. It offers a 7-12% annual percentage yield (APY) through automated strategies on Aave V3, allowing institutions to easily access DeFi with a low minimum investment of 10 USDT or USDC. This vault supports Mantle’s strategy to expand into real-world assets, with Anchorage Digital now providing custody services for regulated investors holding MNT.
What this means:
This milestone is a strong positive signal, showing that the product fits well with market demand and helps Mantle grow its presence in real-world asset applications. However, maintaining these yields depends on stable demand on Aave and rewards from Ethena. On the downside, crypto market volatility could reduce deposits if APYs change significantly.
(Bybit Announcement)
Conclusion
Mantle’s focus on both technical improvements for scalability and growing institutional adoption through its Vault product lays a solid foundation for recovery despite recent market pressures. The big question is whether the Mainnet v1.4.2 upgrade will speed up real-world asset integration ahead of important regulatory developments in the first quarter of 2026.
What is expected in the development of MNT?
Mantle’s upcoming roadmap is focused on growing its decentralized finance (DeFi) features, expanding its use on exchanges, and increasing adoption by institutional investors.
- Aave Integration (Q1 2026) – Launching Aave’s lending platform on the Mantle Network.
- Bybit Expansion Completion (Q1 2026) – Adding over 20 MNT trading pairs and options trading on Bybit.
- RWA Scaling Initiative (2026) – Expanding infrastructure to support tokenizing real-world assets.
Deep Dive
1. Aave Integration (Q1 2026)
Overview: Aave, one of the largest DeFi lending platforms, will be available on Mantle (Aave). This means users can borrow and lend assets with lower fees and strong security, thanks to Mantle’s technology. This could increase activity and the total value locked (TVL) in the Mantle ecosystem.
What this means: This is a positive sign for MNT, as it may attract more DeFi users and increase the network’s usefulness. However, delays or strong competition from other Layer 2 networks could pose risks.
2. Bybit Expansion Completion (Q1 2026)
Overview: Bybit will increase the number of MNT spot trading pairs from 4 to over 20 and introduce options trading, following their joint roadmap announced in August 2025 (ANDR Crypto). This will make MNT more useful for trading and as collateral.
What this means: This expansion should improve liquidity and make MNT more accessible to institutional traders. On the downside, low trading volumes or market instability could limit adoption.
3. RWA Scaling Initiative (2026)
Overview: Building on progress made in 2025 (Mantle '2025 RWApped'), Mantle plans to strengthen partnerships with firms like Anchorage Digital and Securitize. The goal is to grow compliant tokenization of real-world assets such as funds and commodities.
What this means: This initiative could open new revenue opportunities by connecting traditional finance (TradFi) with blockchain technology. However, regulatory challenges and compliance requirements may slow down progress.
Conclusion
Mantle’s roadmap highlights practical steps to enhance DeFi integration, exchange functionality, and institutional-grade infrastructure for real-world assets. A key question for 2026 will be how regulatory clarity impacts Mantle’s ability to expand its real-world asset offerings.
What updates are there in the MNT code base?
Mantle’s software has been improved with modular upgrades, security fixes, and better support for cross-chain transactions.
- Sepolia v1.4.1 Upgrade (Nov 27, 2025) – Improved node performance and data verification.
- LayerZero Core Integration (Aug 30, 2025) – Made it easier to transfer MNT tokens across different blockchain networks.
- v0.4.3 Release (Aug 25, 2025) – Strengthened security and optimized transaction fees.
Deep Dive
1. Sepolia v1.4.1 Upgrade (Nov 27, 2025)
Overview:
This update focused on making Mantle’s nodes run more efficiently and improving how data is verified for developers building on the platform.
Key improvements include smoother syncing between Layer 1 and Layer 2 data and better checks on data availability licenses. The tool that retrieves data was also enhanced to handle larger amounts of information faster, reducing delays during transaction rollups.
Why it matters:
This upgrade is positive for Mantle because faster and more reliable node operations help keep the network stable. Stability is especially important for institutional use cases involving Real-World Assets (RWAs).
(Mantle)
2. LayerZero OFT Integration (Aug 30, 2025)
Overview:
Mantle added support for LayerZero’s Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT) standard, which allows MNT tokens to move directly between different Ethereum-compatible blockchains without needing to be wrapped or converted.
This means users can transfer MNT tokens between networks like Ethereum and HyperEVM with lower fees and less slippage (price changes during transfer).
Why it matters:
This is a big plus for Mantle because it expands the ways decentralized finance (DeFi) applications can use MNT tokens and attracts more liquidity from other blockchain ecosystems.
3. v0.4.3 Code Release (Aug 25, 2025)
Overview:
This release focused on important security fixes and making gas fees (transaction costs) more efficient.
Key fixes include:
- Preventing nonce overflow issues in data availability contracts.
- Reviewing the node slashing logic for the Threshold Signature Scheme (TSS) to ensure fairness and security.
- Adjusting gas prices to better reflect current congestion on Layer 1 networks.
Why it matters:
This update is neutral in terms of immediate user benefits but is important for Mantle’s long-term security and reliability by reducing potential risks.
(GitHub)
Conclusion
Mantle’s recent updates focus on making the network more scalable and ready for institutional use by improving modularity, cross-chain capabilities, and security. While these changes might not cause big price moves right away, they support Mantle’s goal of becoming a key liquidity hub for Real-World Assets.
How will Mantle balance developer-focused improvements with incentives for everyday users in 2026?
Why did the price of MNT go up?
Mantle (MNT) increased by 4.76% in the past 24 hours, slightly outperforming the overall cryptocurrency market, which grew by 4.64%. This bounce back follows a recent weekly drop of 11.43%. The main reasons behind this movement are:
- Upcoming Mainnet Upgrade – Version 1.4.2 launching today
- Rise in Institutional Interest – Holdings up 128% month-over-month
- Overall Market Recovery – Total crypto market value increased by $144 billion
Deep Dive
1. Mainnet Upgrade as a Growth Driver (Positive Outlook)
What’s happening: Mantle’s mainnet upgrade to version 1.4.2 goes live today (January 14, 2 AM UTC). This update includes Ethereum’s Fusaka improvements, which aim to make the network faster and better at working with other blockchains. This follows earlier upgrades to the Mantle Sepolia testnet in November 2025, which were focused on developers.
Why it matters: Upgrades like this usually attract more developers and increase the flow of funds into the network. In the past, Mantle’s price rose about 20% around similar mainnet events (source). Traders seem to be preparing for a boost in network activity and value.
2. Growing Institutional Interest (Positive Outlook)
What’s happening: Institutional holdings of Mantle (MNT) jumped 128% month-over-month in November 2025, with trading volume increasing by 112.5%. Additionally, Bybit’s Mantle Vault reached $100 million in assets under management on January 8 (source).
Why it matters: More institutional investment shows growing confidence in Mantle’s ecosystem, especially its focus on real-world assets (RWA). The integration with Bybit creates steady demand for MNT, similar to how Binance Coin (BNB) grew through exchange-related use. When more coins are held by large investors, fewer are available for trading, which can push prices higher.
3. Overall Market Recovery (Mixed Impact)
What’s happening: The total cryptocurrency market value rose by 4.64% (about $144 billion) in the last 24 hours, with Bitcoin up 3.2% and many major altcoins also gaining. Mantle’s 4.76% increase slightly outpaced this overall trend.
Why it matters: While the general market recovery helped lift most coins, Mantle’s stronger performance suggests it had additional positive factors driving its price. However, Mantle’s price still closely follows Bitcoin’s movements, with a 30-day price correlation of 0.87.
Conclusion
Mantle’s recent price increase is driven by a mix of specific factors—like the upcoming mainnet upgrade and rising institutional interest—and the broader market recovery. The success of the v1.4.2 upgrade will be key to maintaining these gains.
What to watch: Keep an eye on Mantle Network’s gas fees and total value locked (TVL) after the upgrade, as these will indicate ongoing demand and network activity.