Mantis’s main objective is to deliver chain-agnostic, optimized intent settlement. We’ve previously broken down how the Mantis solver network facilitates this goal in our ELI5 article. All of this hard work happens on the backend so that users don’t need to work so hard themselves.

So, what are the architectural features that actually facilitate chain-agnostic intent settlement on Mantis? The answer is:

• The Mantis Protocol is a set of rules and processes that governs how Mantis is able to facilitate optimal cross-domain intent execution.

• The Mantis Rollup is a layer 2 (L2) of the Solana network where the Mantis protocol is built.

• The Mantis App enables users to interact with the Mantis protocol through a streamlined interface.

Find out more about these architectural components powering Mantis below.

The Mantis Protocol

Like all blockchain protocols, the Mantis protocol is a set of rules governing transaction execution. The Mantis protocol is designed to facilitate optimal execution of cross-domain intent via a competition of solvers. In this protocol, users sign intents which are contained on a private rollup mempool. Solvers are staked agents that can a) observe the intents in the mempool and b) post solutions to intents in the auctioneer contract. The auctioneer contract scores the solutions based on how well they fit constraints the user has set. The winner of the auction is responsible for settling the intent along the execution path they have proposed.

In its version 1, the Mantis protocol will operate along the following steps:

1. Intents (preferences for a cross-chain transaction) are submitted to the Mantis interface via the Mantis rollup directly or via another IBC-connected chain like Solana or Ethereum.

2. User funds are escrowed on the source chain or the rollup (where the intent is submitted).

3. All intents then flow to the Mantis rollup. From here, a smart contract on the Mantis rollup sends intents to an off-chain auctioneer.

4. Information on intents is sent to solvers.

5. Solvers submit solutions (i.e. transaction routes) for user intents to the rollup.

6. Solutions are scored off-chain by the auctioneer.

7. Once the winning solution is determined, the solver that proposed it must execute the intent. This is done by sending out the transaction over the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) Protocol (via the Picasso Network) to any relevant chains.

8. Once the transaction is completed, proof of success is sent to the rollup.

This flow is summarized below:

The Mantis Rollup

All DeFi protocols must be built on some sort of blockchain ecosystem. We opted to use a rollup on Solana to build Mantis. This allows us to capitalize upon the unique benefits of both the Solana blockchain and rollups:

• Rollup Benefits:

  • Scalability

  • Security, decentralization, and interoperability of the underlying Layer 1 (L1)

  • Built-in proofs

  • Sovereign liveness and blockspace, separate from the L1

  • Customizability

  • Privacy

• Solana Benefits:

  • Fast transaction finalization

  • Privacy control

  • Customizability

  • Native IBC integration through Picasso’s IBC connections

However, rollups have been limited to the optimistic or ZK rollups in the Ethereum ecosystem. Thus, Composable created its own rollup design on Solana: the Mantis rollup, the first Solana Virtual Machine rollup.

The Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) is Solana’s execution environment, processing programs and data for the network. Compared to other VMs like the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), the SVM offers enhanced scalability; Solana’s Sealevel enables parallel processing of thousands of smart contracts. This means Mantis’s SVM rollup provides an even more scalable solution than existing Ethereum rollups.

We have already described the primary components of our SVM rollup here. To summarize, these components are:

Bridge Contract:

The bridge contract interacts with the rollup to facilitate bridging. Any asset can be deposited into the bridge contract to be staked in proof-of-stake validation, providing the users with staking rewards. However, users depositing SOL, liquid staked tokens (LSTs) from SOL, or Solana-based stablecoins into this bridge contract are able to earn additional yield in the form of restaking, DeFi integrations, and native yield.

Interoperability via IBC:

The IBC is used to settle transactions from the Mantis rollup to the respective L1 (i.e. the destination chain, which can be any IBC-enabled chain). This interoperability is natively integrated into Mantis, as we’ve created state proofs on the Mantis rollup in the SVM. These state proofs will be generated in the validator client of the Mantis rollup.

Security from the L1:

To be considered a rollup, an L2 must inherit security from the L1. Mantis leverages Solana to facilitate both censorship resistance and forced withdrawals in the event that its rollup goes down. Thus, Mantis is able to inherit security from Solana.

Finality:

As Mantis leverages the IBC, finality comes in the form of light client updates. This involves L2 blocks being posted on the L1 and verified by the light client. This also includes posting state proofs to the L1.

The Mantis App

The Mantis application is how users are able to interact with the Mantis protocol. The Mantis app is available here.

Currently, you are able to join the Mantis waitlist on the app.

Waitlist participants become eligible for early protocol access and exclusive rewards:

Soon, the app will go live in its v1 iteration. Users will be able to submit intents for single-chain and cross-chain swaps. Then, the Mantis protocol will carry out optimized intent execution.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Mantis launch process and prepare yourselves to break free.