What Is Manta Atlantic and How Do You Connect to It?

Manta Atlantic is the zero-knowledge (ZK) Layer 1 parachain on Polkadot that powers on-chain compliance identities, zkNFTs, and privacy-focused applications. If you've been searching for 'manta atlantic', you're probably trying to understand what the network is, how to get RPC access, or whether you should build on it before its sunset. This page gives you the essentials: chain settings, endpoint examples, and migration context for developers.

Manta Atlantic decision checklist

Before you integrate Manta Atlantic into a project, run through this checklist.

• Confirm which network you need. Manta Atlantic is a Substrate-based parachain on Polkadot. Manta Pacific is an EVM Layer 2 on Ethereum. They use different tools, wallets, and RPC conventions.
• Check the sunset timeline. Manta Atlantic's parachain slot expires around August 1, 2026. The Manta team has announced they will not renew the slot and are consolidating resources into Manta Pacific.
• Choose RPC access that matches your workload. Public endpoints can be rate-limited and unreliable for production traffic. If you need consistent throughput, consider an RPC API service or a dedicated node.
• Validate chain settings before connecting. Use the correct WSS endpoint, account format, and token standard (DOT vs ERC-20 MANTA).
• Monitor network status. As the sunset approaches, expect intermittent availability and eventual decommissioning of Manta Atlantic services.

What Is Manta Atlantic?

Manta Atlantic is a Layer 1 blockchain built on the Polkadot SDK (Substrate) and deployed as a Polkadot parachain. It was designed to make zero-knowledge proofs practical for consumer apps. The network supports zkNFTs, modular on-chain compliance identities, and staking mechanics that let MANTA holders delegate to collators.

From an infrastructure perspective, Manta Atlantic behaves like many other Substrate chains: you interact with it through JSON-RPC or a client library such as '@polkadot/api'. Its blocks are finalized by the Polkadot relay chain, and it uses the MANTA token for transaction fees and staking.

The network's developer experience is distinct from Manta Pacific. While Pacific is an Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 that runs Solidity smart contracts, Atlantic is a native Substrate chain. That means you need to use Polkadot tooling like the Substrate API Sidecar or the Polkadot.js API, and your accounts use the Substrate SS58 address format.

Manta Atlantic vs Manta Pacific: which one to use?

A common point of confusion is the relationship between the two Manta networks. The table below shows what to check when deciding.

If you are starting a new project today, Manta Pacific is the safer choice. If you have an existing Manta Atlantic deployment, you should plan a migration before the network shutdown. For archival or compliance reasons, you may still need RPC access to Atlantic for a while.

Manta Atlantic RPC and chain settings

To connect to Manta Atlantic, you need the correct endpoint and chain identifiers. Because Manta Atlantic is a Substrate chain, most applications use the 'wss://' protocol for WebSocket connections.

Public endpoints you may encounter in documentation include 'wss://ws.manta.systems'. However, public endpoints are not a reliable foundation for production applications. They can be rate-limited, deprecated, or removed without notice, especially as the sunset process continues.

For production workloads, you have two main options:

• RPC API services that manage endpoint availability, load balancing, and many of the operational concerns around Substrate nodes.
• Dedicated nodes that give you your own infrastructure, useful if you need archive data or high request volumes.

OnFinality provides both types of infrastructure. Check the supported networks page to see if Manta Atlantic is listed, and review RPC pricing for per-request or dedicated options. If you need a full archive node, evaluate whether a dedicated node makes sense for your team.

The chain's genesis hash and exact chain ID are published in the Manta Atlantic chain specification. Most client libraries will fetch these automatically from the endpoint you connect to, so you rarely need to provide them manually. The address format is Substrate SS58, and the token symbol is MANTA.

Connecting to Manta Atlantic with JSON-RPC

You can test a Manta Atlantic endpoint with a simple client call. The following example uses the Polkadot.js API to fetch the latest block header:

const { ApiPromise, WsProvider } = require('@polkadot/api');

async function main() {
  const provider = new WsProvider('wss://ws.manta.systems');
  const api = await ApiPromise.create({ provider });

  const chain = await api.rpc.system.chain();
  const header = await api.rpc.chain.getHeader();

  console.log(chain.toHuman());
  console.log(header.toHuman());

  await api.disconnect();
}

main().catch(console.error);

Keep in mind that public endpoints may not support the request volume or the specific methods your application needs. In production, always route traffic through an endpoint you control or a service that can scale with your usage.

Common Manta Atlantic RPC issues and fixes

If you run into problems connecting to Manta Atlantic, here are the most common causes and the checks you should perform.

• Connection timeouts. This usually means the endpoint is down, unreachable, or the node does not support the requested RPC method. Try a different endpoint or confirm the node is currently synced.
• Wrong endpoint type. Using an HTTP endpoint when the node only accepts WebSocket, or vice versa, will fail. Make sure your client is configured for the protocol of the endpoint.
• Chain mismatch. If you are manually specifying a chain ID, compare it with the one returned by the 'system_chain' or 'system_properties' RPC calls.
• Rate limiting. Public endpoints often return HTTP 429 or JSON-RPC error -32005 under load. Add retry logic, and prefer an RPC provider with defined limits.
• Address format errors. Substrate SS58 addresses include a network prefix. If you see 'invalid address' errors, check that you are using the correct prefix for Manta Atlantic.
• Stale block data. If you are using an archive node, confirm it is fully synced and has not stopped receiving relay chain updates.

Manta Atlantic migration: what developers should know

The Manta team has announced that Manta Atlantic will sunset when its Polkadot parachain slot expires in late July or early August 2026. The official migration FAQ says the team is consolidating all resources into Manta Pacific, the EVM Layer 2 on Ethereum. This is a planned deprecation, not a security incident, but it has practical implications for anyone using Atlantic.

If you hold MANTA on Atlantic, you should migrate your assets before the shutdown. If you run a collator, you will need to unbond and shut down your node. If you are a developer with an application live on Atlantic, you should start porting your contracts or finding an alternative network.

From an RPC perspective, the sunset means you should not build new infrastructure that depends on Manta Atlantic endpoints staying online indefinitely. The availability of public and commercial RPC endpoints will decline as the network winds down. If you need to read historical data after the chain stops, you will need a snapshot or archive service that has captured the chain state before it goes offline.

This is why the decision checklist matters: understand the timeline, choose the right network, and keep your RPC access flexible enough to switch when needed.

Key Takeaways

• Manta Atlantic is a Substrate-based ZK Layer 1 on Polkadot, not an EVM chain. Use Polkadot.js and Substrate tooling.
• The network is sunsetting in 2026. The parachain slot expires around August 1, 2026, and the Manta team is directing users to Manta Pacific.
• RPC access is possible today through endpoints like 'wss://ws.manta.systems', but public endpoints are not reliable for production.
• Use an RPC API service or a dedicated node if you need consistent performance, archive data, or a defined service level. Check the supported networks and RPC pricing pages on OnFinality.
• Plan your exit strategy. New projects should favor Manta Pacific or another active network. Existing projects should migrate assets and infrastructure before the sunset.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Manta Atlantic?

Manta Atlantic is a zero-knowledge Layer 1 blockchain built on Substrate and secured by the Polkadot relay chain. It focuses on use cases like zkNFTs and on-chain compliance identities.

Is Manta Atlantic being deprecated?

Yes. The Manta team has announced that the Polkadot parachain slot will expire around August 1, 2026, and that resources will be consolidated into Manta Pacific, an EVM Layer 2 on Ethereum.

How do I get a Manta Atlantic RPC endpoint?

You can try public endpoints like 'wss://ws.manta.systems' for testing, but for production you should use an RPC API service or dedicated node infrastructure. OnFinality lists supported networks on its networks page, and pricing is available on the RPC pricing page.

Can I use Manta Atlantic RPC after the sunset?

Potentially only if you preserve a full archive snapshot before the network stops. Do not rely on Atlantic endpoints remaining available after the shutdown.

What is the difference between Manta Atlantic and Manta Pacific?

Atlantic is a Substrate-based Polkadot parachain. Pacific is an EVM-compatible Layer 2 on Ethereum. They have different token standards, tooling, and developer ecosystems.