Rethinking the Mango Network Grant Plan: What Needs to Improve?

A Threads About Mango

Introduction

Mango Network’s Testnet Stage Grant Plan is a significant step toward fostering ecosystem growth by supporting developers and projects. However, while the initiative is well-structured, some areas could be optimized to make it more effective, fair, and scalable for long-term success.

This article critically evaluates the grant program’s funding structure, selection criteria, and growth incentives, identifying key issues and proposing strategic improvements.

1. Rethinking Grant Distribution & Incentives

Locked Token Model — A Double-Edged Sword?

One of the most striking aspects of Mango’s grant structure is its reliance on MGO token lockups. Projects receive a significant portion of their grants in MGO tokens, but 70% of these funds remain locked until the Token Generation Event (TGE).

At first glance, this approach ensures that projects remain committed to Mango’s ecosystem, aligning their incentives with long-term growth. However, for early-stage projects, this creates serious liquidity challenges. Teams often need immediate capital for development, audits, and operations. Relying on a yet-to-launch token introduces uncertainty and cash flow risks.

Solution: A More Balanced Grant Model

• Instead of locking 70% of funds, reduce the lockup ratio to 50% or lower, allowing teams to access more liquidity upfront.
• Provide a gradual unlocking mechanism tied to development milestones rather than waiting for TGE.

Is the Funding Amount Sufficient?

Mango Network currently offers grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 USDT, a reasonable figure for small projects but insufficient for high-impact ventures that require extensive resources.

If Mango wants to attract serious developers, it needs to introduce tiered grant levels based on project scale, impact, and feasibility. Larger grants could be awarded to infrastructure projects, while smaller grants could be used for experimental initiatives.

2. Selection Criteria: Encouraging Innovation, Not Just Operations

Mango’s evaluation framework currently weighs four key aspects:

1. 20% — Project Innovation & Feasibility
2. 20% — Team Background & Experience
3. 20% — Token Utility & Market Potential
4. 40% — Operational Capability

While this structure prioritizes project execution, the 40% emphasis on operational capability may unintentionally disadvantage highly innovative but early-stage projects. Many breakthrough ideas come from small, agile teams that haven’t yet built strong operational track records.

Solution: A More Balanced Evaluation Approach

A better distribution might be:

• 30% Innovation & Feasibility (Encourages high-potential ideas)
• 30% Team Experience (Ensures strong execution capability)
• 20% Market Potential (Supports projects with clear long-term value)
• 20% Operational Readiness (Rewards scalable projects but doesn’t overly penalize new teams)

Another issue is the lack of clarity on “Native Mango Projects” — what qualifies as a native project versus an external one? Does cross-chain interoperability reduce a project’s eligibility? These ambiguities must be addressed to ensure transparency in grant allocation.

3. Growth Incentives: Are the Requirements Too High?

Mango’s grant program sets ambitious growth targets:

• Projects must reach 10,000 Daily Active Users (DAU)
• A transaction volume of $10 million is required for further funding

While these numbers are great for assessing project traction, they might be unrealistic for early-stage teams that are still building their user base. Instead of setting a rigid target, Mango could introduce tiered incentives that reward projects for hitting smaller milestones along the way.

Additionally, Mango offers branding, marketing, and hackathon support, which are great incentives — but without a clear developer onboarding roadmap, projects may struggle to integrate efficiently.

Solution: Making Growth More Achievable

• Replace fixed DAU/volume targets with incremental growth rewards based on user adoption trends.
• Offer developer onboarding programs with technical guidance, security best practices, and ecosystem collaborations.
• Provide ecosystem integration grants, helping projects leverage Mango’s existing tools like Mango Wallet, Mango Swap, and BeingDex to accelerate user acquisition.

Final Thoughts: Building a Smarter, More Inclusive Grant Model

Mango Network has a strong foundation for growth, but refining the grant model can maximize its impact and attract high-quality builders.

✅ What Works Well:

• A milestone-based funding approach ensures commitment.
• The focus on DeFi, GameFi, and AI expands ecosystem diversity.
• Additional marketing and technical support boost project visibility.

❌ What Needs Improvement:

1. Reduce locked MGO allocation to improve fund accessibility.
2. Introduce tiered grant levels to accommodate different project needs.
3. Revise the selection criteria to balance innovation and operational strength.
4. Lower the barrier for additional funding by making DAU/transaction goals more flexible.
5. Strengthen developer onboarding through structured training and integration support.

By addressing these areas, Mango can create a more inclusive, high-impact grant program that fosters true ecosystem growth. The potential is there — it’s all about optimizing execution.

What’s Your Take?

• Do you think the MGO token lockup is fair?
• Should early-stage projects get special funding tiers?
• What’s the best way to balance innovation and operational capability?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below! Let’s build a stronger Mango ecosystem — together.

Learn More About Mango Network

If you’re interested in learning more about Mango Network and how it’s revolutionizing Omnichain DeFi, check out the following resources:

🔹 Official Website: Mango Network
🔹 Documentation: Mango Network Docs
🔹 Twitter: @MangoOS_Network
🔹 Discord: Mango Network on Discord
🔹 GitHub: Mango Network on GitHub