As a Layer 2 infrastructure dedicated to NFTs and RWA, Mint Blockchain drives industry growth through efficient and cost-effective solutions.

Introduction

The crypto narrative is always full of dramatic shifts—just as the Meme frenzy on Solana cools down, public data reveals that capital is quietly flowing back into the Ethereum ecosystem.

But what else is there to explore on Ethereum?

Naturally, the two most crowded sectors—Layer 2 and NFTs—remain at the forefront. However, both seem to be facing the innovator’s dilemma:

In the L2 battlefield, the performance arms race has turned the TPS competition between ZK-Rollups and OP-Rollups into a futile cycle of “meaningless optimization.” Meanwhile, in the NFT space, the hype around PFP collections is fading, with trading volume shrinking by over 90% from its 2021 peak.

As the Ethereum ecosystem continues its tug-of-war between “faster chains” and “pricier JPGs,” one project appears to be breaking the mold.

Mint Blockchain, the first NFT-dedicated L2 on the Optimism Superchain, is taking a different approach. Rather than engaging in the TPS rat race, it has chosen a more radical path—positioning NFTs as “value routers” that connect the physical world with AI.

But if AI starts holding NFTs, what kind of infrastructure is needed to support it? Beyond flipping PFPs, what real-world use cases can unlock the non-financial potential of NFTs?

Answers to these long-standing questions can be found in Mint Blockchain’s recently released whitepaper.

At the same time, Mint’s website is running a series of marketing campaigns, building momentum for the upcoming $MINT airdrop. The whitepaper also reveals parts of the tokenomics, which is what most users are eager to see.

With this in mind, TechFlow is diving into Mint’s whitepaper to explore a key question:

Can this unconventional L2 truly move beyond the TPS obsession and deliver scenario-driven NFT solutions?

Key Takeaways

Project Positioning:

• Mint Blockchain is an Ethereum-based L2 designed to support the full lifecycle of NFTs, including creation, assetization, trading, cross-chain liquidity, and data analytics.

• As a core member of the Optimism Superchain, Mint leverages OP Stack technology to offer an efficient, low-cost blockchain infrastructure, driving NFT adoption across consumer, financial, social, and real-world asset (RWA) sectors.

Value Propositions:

• Innovative Protocol Standard: The ERC-7765 standard enables seamless integration between NFTs and real-world assets, pioneering a new track for RWA NFTs.

• Cross-Chain Liquidity Aggregation: Mint Liquid aggregates liquidity for multi-chain NFTs and tokens, creating the world’s largest NFT order routing network.

• Comprehensive Module Support: From Mint Studio’s NFT creation tools to RareShop’s RWA NFT marketplace, Mint provides a full-stack NFT ecosystem.

• Efficient Economic Model: Through the $MINT staking & restaking mechanism, users can earn up to 15% APY and share network revenue, enhancing capital efficiency.

• Optimism Superchain Membership: As a vital part of the OP Superchain, Mint benefits from strong technical support and community resources.

Notable Highlights:

• $MINT Airdrop: Users can earn $MINT airdrops by participating in Mint Forest, Mint mainnet activities, and MintID staking. The Mint NFT Legends Season initiative allocates 1% of the total $MINT supply (10 million tokens) to reward historical NFT OG contributors.

• Staking Rewards: $MINT holders can earn dual benefits through staking & restaking, including a 15% APY and a share of network revenues.

• Early Ecosystem Incentives: As a rapidly growing Layer 2 network, Mint has attracted over 400,000 active users and 100 ecosystem applications, offering early adopters significant advantages.

• RWA NFT Opportunities: RareShop introduces groundbreaking scenarios for tokenizing real-world assets, allowing users to engage in the world’s first RWA NFT marketplace powered by Mint.

Why Do NFTs Need a Dedicated Layer 2?

Today, when people talk about NFTs, they often associate them with the speculative hype around “trading small images” and the subsequent market downturn. As a result, discussing NFTs now may seem out of place. However, speculation does not signify the end of value.

Beyond PFPs, NFTs have legitimate use cases in RWA, serving as digital representations of real-world assets. They can also be applied to identity verification, copyright protection, gaming asset management, and other broader applications.

Yet, these potentials remain largely untapped. One key reason is that existing blockchain infrastructures do not provide dedicated support for NFTs.

Some of the major challenges NFTs face include:

1. High Minting and Transaction Costs: Minting and trading NFTs on Ethereum’s mainnet remains prohibitively expensive, especially for small creators and average users.

2. Lack of Standardized Tools and Cross-Chain Compatibility: NFT creation, management, and cross-chain circulation remain complex, with developers facing compatibility challenges across different networks.

3. Liquidity Constraints: Despite the growing NFT market, liquidity remains significantly lower than fungible tokens, making it difficult to trade or realize value efficiently.

4. Limitations in Data Storage and Interactions: The NFT ecosystem increasingly demands robust data storage and interaction mechanisms, yet current infrastructure offers limited support.

Mint Blockchain has carved out a distinct positioning in the competitive Layer 2 (L2) space—offering a dedicated L2 solution tailored for the NFT ecosystem.

Positioning is crucial, especially in the increasingly crowded L2 sector.

According to its whitepaper, Mint Blockchain is not attempting to compete directly with general-purpose L2s. Instead, it focuses on NFTs and RWA (Real-World Assets), building infrastructure specifically designed for these asset classes.

This differentiated approach not only avoids the inefficiencies of generalized performance competition but also unlocks new possibilities for NFT creators, developers, and users.

Mint Blockchain: A Tailored L2 for the NFT Ecosystem

Official information from the whitepaper reveals that Mint Blockchain is an Ethereum Layer 2 network initiated by NFTScan Labs and the MintCore developer team. Construction began in October 2023, and by May 2024, the mainnet was launched, marking the start of its ecosystem development phase.

In traditional Layer 2 networks, NFTs are often treated as an “add-on feature” rather than receiving dedicated technical support.

Mint Blockchain, however, is designed to unleash the full potential of NFTs through purpose-built infrastructure, driving their evolution from speculative assets to utility-driven value assets.

Mint Blockchain’s technical architecture is based on the OP Stack, ensuring seamless EVM compatibility. However, its true differentiation lies in its specialized optimizations for NFTs.

• Full lifecycle support for NFTs and RWA: From minting to trading, from liquidity management to cross-chain circulation, Mint Blockchain provides a comprehensive suite of tools and modules specifically designed for the NFT ecosystem.

• Optimized storage and data layers: It introduces enhancements for NFT storage, liquidity, and data management, enabling high-efficiency batch minting and transfers—addressing the inefficiencies of NFT transactions on traditional blockchains.

As mentioned earlier, NFTs can also serve as certificates for real-world assets (RWA). However, enabling this vision requires more than just an L2 chain. Mint Blockchain incorporates the unique ERC-7765 standard, designed to bridge the technical gap between NFTs and real-world assets.

With this standard, NFTs can be bound to physical assets and carry enforceable rights. For example, an NFT ticket could grant access to an offline event, while an NFT-based product could be linked to real-world logistics and fulfillment.

At this point, we won’t dive further into technical details. Readers interested in the protocol can refer to the original whitepaper or technical documentation.

Beyond the technology, Mint’s whitepaper also hints at a connection to the recent surge in AI Agents—leveraging NFTs to link users and AI Agents, allowing both humans and AI-driven entities to freely own and manage NFT assets.

We will explore this AI-related aspect in more detail in the next chapter.

Overall, Mint Blockchain is reshaping the scope of Layer 2 solutions by focusing on optimized infrastructure for NFTs and RWAs. With its innovative technical framework—such as the OP Stack and ERC-7765 standard—combined with intelligent tools like AI Agents, Mint Blockchain is expanding the utility of L2 networks beyond conventional use cases.

Building a Complete NFT Infrastructure: Beyond Just the Blockchain

A blockchain alone isn’t enough—real adoption depends on practical applications.

Beyond its Layer 2 network, Mint Blockchain has designed five core modules that cover the full lifecycle of NFTs, from minting to circulation and even real-world asset integration.

1.Mint Studio: A Cross-Chain NFT Minting Tool for Creators

Mint Studio is one of the core tools provided by Mint Blockchain, designed specifically for NFT creators. It supports various types of NFT creation, including text, images, audio, and video.

One of its key advantages is its broad cross-chain capabilities.

Creators can mint NFTs across multiple blockchain networks (such as Berachain, Base, and Optimism), enabling seamless cross-chain asset deployment.

Additionally, Mint Studio features an intuitive user interface, making it accessible to creators without technical expertise.

The goal is to lower the barriers to NFT creation and provide creators with more freedom and technical support.

2.IP Layer: Intellectual Property Management and Pricing for NFTs

IP Layer is a specialized module focused on NFT intellectual property (IP) management, helping creators turn digital assets into legally recognized IP while enabling automated revenue distribution through smart contracts.

Creators can register copyrights for their NFTs on-chain, ensuring uniqueness and legal protection. The system also allows creators to receive royalties from secondary sales automatically, which eliminates copyright disputes commonly found in traditional markets.

The core objective of IP Layer is to protect creator rights while bringing greater transparency and trust to the NFT market.

3.Mint Liquid: Multi-Chain Liquidity Aggregation Protocol

Mint Liquid serves as Mint Blockchain’s liquidity solution and addresses the fragmentation and liquidity challenges in the NFT market.

This module facilitates cross-chain transactions for both NFTs and tokens. It allows users to transfer assets seamlessly between networks. It also enhances transaction efficiency while reducing costs.

The goal of Mint Liquid is to create a highly liquid market for NFTs and RWAs, thus increasing overall market activity and transaction efficiency.

4.RareShop: A Consumer-Focused RWA NFT Marketplace

RareShop is a dedicated marketplace for Real-World Assets (RWA). It enables users to buy, sell, and redeem NFTs for tangible goods and services.

Through RareShop, users can purchase NFTs that grant access to physical products or real-world experiences—such as limited-edition merchandise or event tickets.

The marketplace supports multiple cryptocurrency payment options. It offers users more flexibility. Additionally, it integrates privacy-preserving technologies like zero-knowledge proofs to ensure transaction confidentiality.

5.NFT-AI Agent: AI-Integrated NFT Analytics and Smart Tools

Amid the rising popularity of AI Agents, Mint Blockchain also introduces an intelligent tool module that leverages AI to provide users with comprehensive NFT data analysis and market insights.

For example, AI Agents can analyze real-time NFT market data and help users stay ahead of trends. By examining historical transaction data, they can also offer pricing recommendations for NFTs.

When it comes to creative autonomy, AI Agents can generate NFT creation suggestions based on user preferences or even assist in the creative process.

The goal of this module is to reduce decision-making costs for users while inspiring creators with new ideas.

Looking at the five modules Mint has outlined, we can see that their deep integration and interconnection effectively cover the entire NFT lifecycle.

• Mint Studio handles NFT creation.

• IP Layer ensures copyright protection and revenue distribution.

• Mint Liquid provides liquidity and boosts market circulation.

• RareShop bridges NFTs with real-world assets.

• NFT-AI Agent enhances NFT management and trading through AI.

From minting and circulation to real-world applications, Mint Blockchain’s infrastructure is designed to meet the evolving needs of the NFT space. This makes it a comprehensive foundation for the next phase of NFT adoption.

Current Ecosystem Progress

Since its mainnet launch in May last year, how has Mint performed? Let’s start by looking at some fundamental data:

• Active Wallet Addresses: Reached 590,000, with 276,000 being active users.

• Daily Transaction Volume: Exceeds 330,000 transactions, primarily focused on NFT and RWA (Real-World Asset) transactions.

• Ecosystem Applications: Over 100 applications have been launched, including native dApps like MintSwap Finance, Mint Forest, and RareShop.

• Global Community: Covers 12 languages with a total of over 300,000 community members.

From a funding perspective, in May 2024, the project secured a $5 million seed round from investors, including Jsquare, BlockAI Ventures, SNZ, and Mask Network.

More notably, in October last year, the project received a $2 million strategic investment from the Optimism Foundation, along with governance voting rights for 1 million $OP. It demonstrates Optimism’s clear intention to support Mint’s ecosystem.

These milestones highlight Mint Blockchain’s technical advancements and its strengthened ecosystem positioning through strategic funding and partnerships.

Beyond the whitepaper, the project’s roadmap indicates a focus on refining its tokenomics and staking mechanisms this year.

The Token Generation Event (TGE) for $MINT is expected to be a major point of interest for many participants.

$MINT Tokenomics & Airdrop Initiatives

As the core value carrier of the ecosystem, $MINT’s distribution is designed to balance community incentives with long-term development needs. The whitepaper outlines its specific allocation as follows:

• Total Supply: 1 billion $MINT

• Distribution Breakdown:

  • 82% allocated to community growth:

    • MintDAO (50%): Supports ecosystem incentives, staking rewards, and infrastructure development.
    • Early Contributors (20%): Rewards early supporters and developers.
    • Community Airdrop (12%): Expands community engagement through campaigns and incentives.

  • 18% allocated to the MintCore team for development and long-term operations.

However, details regarding vesting schedules and unlock conditions are yet to be disclosed. Users need to stay tuned for further updates via official channels.

$MINT plays multiple key roles within the Mint Blockchain ecosystem:

1. Governance: Holders can participate in network governance, including proposal voting and ecosystem decisions.

2. Ecosystem Incentives: Rewards developers, creators, and users for contributing to the ecosystem’s growth.

3. Network Transaction Asset: Serves as the primary payment asset for transaction fees, asset issuance, and other on-chain activities.

4. Asset Valuation: Used for pricing and trading RWAs, NFTs, and tokens. It establishes itself as a fundamental value unit.

5. Staking & Restaking: Enables users to earn network revenue shares and additional rewards through staking mechanisms.

Among these, the restaking mechanism, which is directly tied to yield generation, warrants further exploration.

• Staking Mechanism

  1. Users can stake $MINT, $ETH, or NFT assets through the MintPool protocol.
  2. Stakers must choose a staking node:
     • Super Nodes: Operated by infrastructure providers and investment institutions. It requires a substantial $MINT stake.
     • Base Nodes: Run by community members and developers. It features a lower entry barrier and greater accessibility.
  3. Staking Rewards: Users earn an annual percentage rate (APR) of 15%. It is funded by MintDAO.

• Restaking Mechanism

  1. Users who stake $MINT receive sMINT (Staked MINT Tokens).
  2. sMINT can be converted into BC721 Mint-eNFT (a Bonding Curve-based strategic NFT).
  3. Holders of BC721 Mint-eNFT receive 50% of Mint Blockchain’s sequencer revenue (after deducting DA and Superchain fees).

By leveraging staking and restaking, users not only earn token rewards but also participate in network revenue sharing. This mechanism enhances $MINT’s capital efficiency while providing long-term yield opportunities.

Airdrop Campaign: NFT Legends Season

To further incentivize community participation, Mint Blockchain launched the NFT Legends Season Airdrop event.

• Total Airdrop Allocation: 1% of total $MINT supply (10 million tokens)
• Event Duration: January 2, 2025 – February 15, 2025

During this period, eligible users can claim NFT Legend Boxes, which serve as the core reward mechanism of the event. These boxes contain rewards of varying tiers:

• A-Level (Standard Rewards)
• S-Level (High-Value Rewards)
• SS-Level (Rare Rewards)
• SSS-Level (Legendary Rewards)

The SSS-Level rewards are the most coveted. They offer the highest allocation of $MINT tokens.

Eligibility Criteria

• OG NFT Holders: Users holding specific NFT collections (e.g., CryptoPunks, Bored Ape Yacht Club) can claim varying amounts of NFT Legend Boxes.
• Major NFT Market Traders: Users active on OpenSea, Blur, etc., can claim boxes based on their trading volume.
• NFTFi Platform Users: Users staking NFTs on platforms like Blur Lending and BendDAO also qualify.

Box holders can now open their NFT Legend Boxes, with the claiming period running until February 28. It helps secure their allocated $MINT airdrop.

Unlocking the Potential of NFTs & RWAs

As a Layer 2 infrastructure dedicated to NFT and RWA adoption, Mint Blockchain is driving industry growth through efficient, low-cost solutions.

With its five core modules and Optimism Superchain’s technical backing, Mint addresses challenges such as NFT standardization and liquidity while laying a solid foundation for the integration of NFTs and real-world assets.

Through initiatives like the $MINT airdrop (NFT Legends Season), Mint successfully attracts both OG users and new participants. It expands its community and ecosystem influence. Looking ahead, Mint aims to become the world’s largest NFT application network and bridge the gap between on-chain and off-chain assets, thus unlocking new possibilities for blockchain adoption.

From a crypto investor’s perspective, Mint Blockchain presents a compelling opportunity for both users and developers to participate and innovate. Whether taking advantage of early ecosystem incentives or engaging in airdrop activities, Mint offers an attractive option—especially in times when market hotspots are scarce and secondary market returns are hard to come by.

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