On May 2, 2023, blockchain infrastructure provider Ankr announced the integration of Remote Procedure Call (RPC) connections for the Mantle testnet, marking a significant step in the convergence of scalable blockchain infrastructure and the growing demand for decentralized compute resources. The partnership arrives as Bitcoin trades near $28,680 and Ethereum at $1,870, with the broader crypto market capitalization exceeding $1.16 trillion.
The Synergy
The Ankr-Mantle integration represents more than just another RPC endpoint. It exemplifies the emerging synergy between decentralized infrastructure providers and modular blockchain architecture that is increasingly essential for AI-powered applications. Mantle, a high-performance Ethereum Layer 2 network built with modular architecture and optimistic rollup technology, offers the low fees and high throughput that data-intensive AI workloads demand. Ankr provides the global, geo-distributed node infrastructure that ensures reliable, low-latency access to the network.
For AI applications that require frequent on-chain interactions — such as decentralized machine learning model training, AI agent execution, and verifiable inference — having performant RPC access to a scalable Layer 2 is not a luxury but a necessity. The Ankr-Mantle connection delivers up to 1,500 requests per second on premium plans, with dedicated endpoints and WebSocket capabilities that support the real-time data flows AI systems require.
AI Use Cases in Web3
The intersection of AI and blockchain is producing increasingly concrete applications. Decentralized compute networks leverage blockchain infrastructure to distribute AI training workloads across global node networks, reducing costs and eliminating single points of failure. AI agents operating on-chain require constant interaction with smart contracts — reading market data, executing trades, managing portfolios — all of which depend on reliable RPC infrastructure.
Verifiable inference, where AI model outputs are recorded on-chain for transparency and auditability, demands high-throughput transaction processing that Layer 2 networks like Mantle can provide. The combination of Ankr’s distributed RPC nodes and Mantle’s modular architecture creates a pipeline capable of handling the data volumes these applications generate.
AI tokens and decentralized compute projects have been gaining traction throughout 2023, with projects like SingularityNET, Fetch.ai, and Ocean Protocol building platforms that connect AI developers with decentralized computing resources. The infrastructure layer that Ankr and Mantle are building is the connective tissue these projects need to scale.
Data Privacy Implications
The convergence of AI and blockchain infrastructure raises important privacy considerations. AI systems processing sensitive data through blockchain networks need assurance that their RPC interactions are not leaking information to centralized intermediaries. Ankr’s decentralized node architecture mitigates this concern by distributing requests across a global network rather than routing through a single provider. Premium RPC plans offer dedicated endpoints that further reduce the risk of data exposure through shared infrastructure.
Mantle’s optimistic rollup design also provides privacy benefits by batching transactions off-chain before settling on Ethereum, reducing the granularity of on-chain data visibility. For AI applications handling proprietary models or sensitive training data, this layered approach offers a practical balance between transparency and confidentiality.
The Innovation Frontier
The Ankr-Mantle partnership points toward a future where blockchain infrastructure becomes increasingly modular and specialized. Rather than one-size-fits-all chains, the ecosystem is evolving toward a network of specialized layers: settlement on Ethereum, execution on Layer 2s like Mantle, and infrastructure provision through decentralized services like Ankr. This modular approach mirrors trends in AI infrastructure, where training, inference, and serving are handled by specialized systems optimized for each task.
The elimination of complex node operations through managed RPC services lowers the barrier to entry for AI developers who want to build on-chain applications without becoming blockchain infrastructure experts. Developers can connect their applications to Mantle through Ankr’s endpoint at rpc.ankr.com/mantle_testnet using standard EVM JSON RPC methods, integrating blockchain capabilities into their AI workflows with minimal friction.
Concluding Thoughts
The infrastructure layer connecting AI and blockchain is still in its early stages, but partnerships like Ankr-Mantle demonstrate that the building blocks are falling into place. As AI applications increasingly require verifiable, transparent, and decentralized computation, the demand for scalable blockchain infrastructure will only grow. The projects that solve the infrastructure problem today will be the foundation upon which the AI-blockchain economy is built tomorrow.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own research before engaging with any cryptocurrency or blockchain project.
Ankr adding Mantle testnet RPCs is small news on paper but actually huge for devs. reliable RPCs are the backbone nobody talks about
rpc enjoyer is right, devs dont talk about RPC reliability until theirs goes down at 3am during a deploy
Ankr RPC endpoints were already solid before the Mantle integration. this just made it easier for devs to skip running their own nodes
the modular L2 narrative is getting real traction. Mantle using optimistic rollups with Ankr distributed nodes could actually handle AI workloads without choking
modular L2 plus distributed nodes is the right stack for AI workloads. the missing piece is still inference cost, latency alone wont save you if the compute is too expensive
inference cost is the bottleneck but mantle fees at least make small model calls viable. saw a demo running 7B parameter inference on chain for fractions of a cent
optimistic rollups with AI workloads is the actual use case nobody talks about. the compute demands are insane and L2 fees make it viable
optimistic rollups for AI inference is fine until you hit a fraud proof challenge. running the entire inference batch again on L1 would cost more than the original computation
segfault_ raised the fraud proof re-execution cost and thats the elephant in the room. replaying a full inference batch on L1 could cost 100x the original L2 fee. optimistic rollups werent designed for stateful compute
geo-distributed RPCs matter more than people think. latency kills on-chain AI agent interactions. good to see someone thinking about this
ankr running geo distributed nodes since 2021 and only now getting credit for it. infra providers are the plumbing of web3, nobody appreciates it until the pipe bursts
ankr been quietly shipping RPC infra for years. mantle testnet integration is small on paper but reliable endpoints are what actually ship products