Manta Network is an innovative player in the modular blockchain space, focused on developing zero-knowledge (ZK) applications. It was founded in 2020 by a team of experts with backgrounds from prestigious institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Algorand. The project initially started by building a parachain on Polkadot, focusing on ZK compliance and privacy. However, recognizing the growing demand for scalability, Manta Network shifted its focus to developing a Layer 2 solution on Ethereum, known as Manta Pacific, to support EVM-native ZK applications.

Manta Atlantic, the Layer 1 solution, continues to operate on Polkadot and focuses on zkSBTs (Zero-Knowledge Soulbound Tokens) for private, reusable, and auditable identities. This shift to Layer 2 with Manta Pacific allows for more scalable ZK applications while maintaining the privacy and security standards set by the Polkadot layer.

Manta Network has received investment from key players such as Binance Labs and Polychain Capital. The project continues to develop and focus on enhancing privacy, scalability, and compliance within the Web3 ecosystem.