What Is Mantra (OM) and How Does It Work?
Mantra (OM) is a
Layer-1 blockchain ecosystem focused on
real-world asset tokenization (RWA), offering infrastructure and compliance tools to bring regulated assets like real estate, bonds, and securities on-chain. Built using the
Cosmos SDK and connected via the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol, Mantra enables institutions and developers to launch tokenized assets in a secure and regulatory-compliant environment.
At the heart of the Mantra ecosystem is the OM token, which serves multiple purposes: it powers
staking, secures the network through proof-of-stake consensus, enables governance via voting on proposals, and acts as a utility token across its
DeFi modules. Mantra supports features like identity verification (
KYC), asset issuance, and cross-chain operability, positioning itself as a compliant and scalable solution for institutional DeFi and the RWA market.
When Was Mantra Protocol Launched?
The OM token debuted in October 2020 as an
ERC‑20 token on
Ethereum’s RioChain (a Polkadot parachain) via public and private sales, raising ~$3.93 M in the public sale and allocating ~75.6 M OM to public distribution. Following its initial launch, Mantra migrated to its own Cosmos-based Layer-1, aiming to serve RWA use cases.
The community approved a transition in February 2024 to make OM the native token of the new chain. The official MANTRA Chain
mainnet went live in October 2024, bringing on-chain staking, inflationary economics, and a burn-and-mint bridging mechanism.
Here’s the Mantra (OM) roadmap presented as bullet points with key milestones and dates:
• August 2020: Public sale (TGE) of 75 million OM on Ethereum.
• February 2024: Community vote approved OM as the native staking token for the upcoming Layer-1 MANTRA Chain.
• March-May 2024: Raised $11 million in private funding, backed by strategic investors including Nomura.
• October 23, 2024: TMGE (Token Migration & Genesis Event) and MANTRA Chain mainnet launch with ~888.9 million OM bridged from Ethereum.
• October 2024 onward: On-chain staking goes live with ~3% inflation rate and an estimated 5.7% staking APR.
• Early 2025: Launch of a $108.9 million Ecosystem Fund, acquisition of a VASP license in Dubai, and new partnerships for RWA tokenization.
• April 2025: Burned 150 million OM tokens, as part of a strategic token supply adjustment.
• May-June 2025: Focused on scaling the ecosystem,
validator network upgrades, and enhanced IBC (Inter-Blockchain Communication) integrations.
What Is the OM Token Utility?
The OM token serves multiple roles within the MANTRA ecosystem, including staking for network security, participating in governance proposals, paying transaction fees, and accessing on-chain compliance services for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. It also acts as a utility and incentive token across various DeFi modules and community initiatives.
What Is Mantra (OM) Tokenomics?
888,888,888 OM bridged from Ethereum, then an equal amount (~888,888,888 OM) minted on MANTRA Chain — effectively doubling supply to ~1.78 B OM. OM tokens transitioned from a fixed supply to uncapped inflationary design. Current inflation is ~3% per year, with ~5.73% staking APR. Of the annual inflation, 60% of the tokens have been allocated for staking rewards, and 40% to the MANTRA Chain Association (ecosystem/treasury).
OM Token Distribution
• Legacy (bridged) supply: 888,888,888 OM
• Upgrade incentives: 311,111,112 OM
• Staking rewards (initial): 266,666,666 OM
• Team & Core Contributors: 300,000,000 OM
• Genesis/testnet airdrop: 50,000,000 OM
• Public/Private sales and referrals/reserves/grants allocated as follows:
Public rounds (~8.5%),
Private (~9%),
Referrals (~12.5%),
Reserves (~10%),
Grants (~12.5%)
How to Migrate OM From ERC-20 to MANTRA Chain
To migrate your OM tokens from Ethereum (ERC-20) to the MANTRA Chain (Cosmos-based), you need to use the official OM Token Bridge, which operates using a burn-and-mint mechanism to maintain a constant total supply across both networks.
1. Visit the Official OM Token Bridge: Go to: https://bridge.mantrachain.io
2. Connect Your Wallets: Connect your
Ethereum-compatible wallet (e.g.,
MetaMask) for ERC-20 OM. Connect your Cosmos-compatible wallet (e.g., Keplr or Leap Wallet) for MANTRA Chain OM.
3. Burn Your ERC-20 OM Tokens: Specify the amount of OM to migrate. The bridge will burn your ERC-20 OM on Ethereum. This is irreversible, so double-check the amount and wallet addresses.
4. Wait for Verification: After burning, the system will process the transaction and verify the burn event on-chain. This may take a few minutes depending on network congestion.
5. Mint OM on MANTRA Chain: Once confirmed, the same amount of OM will be minted on MANTRA Chain and delivered to your connected Cosmos wallet.
6. Check Your Balance: Open your Cosmos wallet and verify your new OM token balance.
What Blockchain Network(s) Does OM Token Operate on?
The OM token operates on two blockchain networks: Ethereum and the MANTRA Chain. Originally launched as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum in 2020, OM later expanded to its own Cosmos-based Layer-1 blockchain, MANTRA Chain, in October 2024. This dual-network design uses a burn-and-mint bridge mechanism, where OM tokens are permanently burned on Ethereum and newly minted on MANTRA Chain, maintaining a constant total supply across both chains. While Ethereum provides
liquidity and broader ecosystem access, MANTRA Chain enables faster transactions, native staking, and compliance-focused RWA tokenization.
Which Wallets Support OM Tokens?
You can safely store your OM tokens on BingX, a trusted centralized exchange that supports OM under its spot trading wallet infrastructure. This allows you to seamlessly trade, deposit, and withdraw OM without needing external wallets, perfect for ease of use and liquidity.
For storing OM tokens outside of exchanges, several wallet options are available across desktop, mobile, and browser platforms.
Hardware wallets like
Ledger (Nano X/S Plus/Stax) and Trezor (Model One/Model T) support OM via Ethereum and Cosmos-compatible networks using interfaces such as Ledger Live and Trezor Suite. Desktop wallets like Atomic Wallet and MyEtherWallet (MEW) offer functionalities to store, send, swap, and manage OM tokens. On mobile, Trust Wallet, imToken, and TokenPocket support OM on Ethereum and other EVM chains, while browser extensions like MetaMask and Enkrypt provide convenient access to ERC-20 OM tokens. For native OM on MANTRA Chain, users can choose Cosmos-based wallets such as Keplr, Leap, and Cosmostation, or connect MetaMask using MANTRA Chain’s custom RPC settings for EVM compatibility and IBC-based features.
Why Did OM's Price Crash in May 2025?
OM’s dramatic price collapse in April–May 2025 stemmed primarily from a cascade of forced liquidations on centralized exchanges. According to co‑founder JP Mullin, the crash occurred on a low‑liquidity Sunday evening, where leveraged positions were abruptly closed without warning, triggering a flood of automated sell orders. With few active buyers, each liquidation amplified the next, rapidly pushing OM from over $6 to below $0.50 in under an hour. Estimated liquidations totaled around $75 million, fueling the 90%+ drop that wiped billions off its market cap.
Adding fuel to the fire were structural vulnerabilities and market dynamics. OM’s total supply had recently doubled upon migrating to MANTRA Chain, significantly diluting existing holders and undermining liquidity depth. The token was heavily concentrated, some wallets held a disproportionate share, which amplified the impact when large holders or margin positions were liquidated. Panic selling, stop-loss triggers, and the project’s muted communication further entrenched the downward spiral, resulting in a near instant collapse with few buyers stepping in to stabilize the market.