MANTRA Chain Shuts Down Association 6
MANTRA Chain, a layer-1 blockchain focused on tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs), is shutting down its Association 6 validator as part of its decentralization push. Announced on March 28, 2025, and reiterated on May 7, the validator will be unbonded, meaning staked tokens won’t automatically return to delegators. Users must move their $OM to another validator to avoid disruptions (MANTRA Chain X Post, May 7, 2025). This move aims to enhance network security and align with MANTRA’s mission of a permissionless, regulatory-compliant ecosystem for assets like art and real estate (mantrachain.io). Recent NewsMANTRA has faced turbulence in 2025. The $OM token crashed 90% this year, sparking community outrage and comparisons to the 2022 Terra/LUNA collapse (99Bitcoins, May 2, 2025). On X, users have called it a “scam,” with some alleging price manipulation and others demanding transparency on token supply (X Post Replies, May 7, 2025). Despite this, MANTRA continues to build, recently launching its first DEX for RWA swaps and farming rewards (mantrachain.io). Future PlansMANTRA’s roadmap includes expanding RWA tokenization, with plans to integrate more assets and enhance cross-chain functionality via the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol (IBC). The project also aims to grow its developer community and roll out new features like MANTRA Vaults for simplified yield farming (docs.mantrachain.io). Onchain DataSpecific staking metrics for Association 6 are unavailable, but MANTRA’s Proof-of-Stake network relies on validators staking $OM to secure the chain. Validators acting maliciously risk slashing, ensuring network stability (docs.mantrachain.io). Community SentimentX sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with users expressing frustration over $OM’s price and perceived mismanagement. Replies to MANTRA’s post include calls for refunds and accusations of investor harm, highlighting a trust crisis (X Post Replies, May 7, 2025). Why It MattersThis decommissioning is a step toward decentralization but comes at a volatile time for MANTRA. It could impact $OM’s staking dynamics and investor confidence in RWA projects. For the crypto community, it underscores the importance of active stake management in PoS networks. Risk DisclaimerBe cautious: $OM’s recent volatility and community backlash suggest potential risks. Always research before staking or trading.