ZK's New King: How Mantle Outpaced Rivals With Speed, Scale, and Smart Contracts

Mantle Network, a zero-knowledge (ZK) rollup platform built on Ethereum, has emerged as the largest ZK Rollup by total value locked (TVL) following a major mainnet upgrade in early 2025. The upgrade, which introduced enhanced scalability and reduced gas fees, catalyzed a surge in user adoption and capital inflows, propelling Mantle’s TVL above key competitors in the ZK space.

According to on-chain data from blockchain analytics firm Dune, Mantle’s TVL surpassed $1.2 billion in the week following the upgrade, marking a 60% increase from the previous month. This growth has positioned Mantle as the top ZK Rollup by TVL, edging out platforms such as zkSync Era and Linea. The network's native token, MANTLE, also saw a 40% increase in trading volume on decentralized exchanges, reflecting heightened market confidence in the ecosystem.

The upgrade primarily focused on improving transaction throughput and reducing latency, with Mantle leveraging advanced cryptographic techniques to enable faster verification of off-chain computations. Developers and users have reported a 70% reduction in average transaction costs compared to Ethereum Layer 1, further incentivizing the migration of decentralized applications (dApps) and liquidity to the network. The platform also introduced a new bridge to facilitate seamless token transfers between Ethereum and Mantle, enhancing interoperability.

Mantle’s rise has drawn attention from both institutional and retail investors, with several major DeFi protocols announcing their intention to integrate with the network. Aave, one of the leading decentralized lending platforms, confirmed in late March 2025 that it would deploy its v3 protocol on Mantle, citing the platform’s performance and cost advantages. This move is expected to drive further liquidity and activity on the network, reinforcing its position as a key player in the ZK ecosystem.

Analysts have noted that Mantle’s success underscores a broader trend of ZK rollups gaining traction as Ethereum’s Layer 2 solutions. With Ethereum’s gas fees remaining volatile due to network congestion, platforms that offer lower costs and faster finality are attracting more users. Mantle’s post-upgrade performance demonstrates how well-optimized ZK infrastructures can capture market share by delivering both scalability and security. The platform’s ability to attract top-tier DeFi projects suggests that ZK-based solutions may continue to reshape the Ethereum landscape in the coming months.

Looking ahead, Mantle’s development team has outlined a roadmap that includes further optimizations to its consensus layer and integration with cross-chain bridges. The team also plans to launch a token airdrop program to reward early adopters and incentivize broader participation. While the long-term sustainability of the platform’s growth remains subject to ongoing development and user adoption, its current trajectory indicates a strong foundation for continued expansion.