Lock, Vote, Earn: How to Participate in Mento Governance with veMENTO

With the launch of the MENTO token, the Mento Protocol is entering its next phase, defined by community ownership, continued decentralized decision-making (as a spin-off from Celo governance), and a strong commitment to long-term alignment between protocol participants and contributors.

At the heart of this governance model is veMENTO: a vote-escrowed version of the MENTO token that empowers users to shape the future of the Mento ecosystem directly.

What is veMENTO?

veMENTO (vote-escrowed MENTO) is a locked version of the MENTO token that grants voting power in Mento governance. The system is based on the vote escrow token model, initially introduced by Curve Finance, and is now widely adopted across DeFi for aligning governance influence with long-term commitment.

When you lock MENTO tokens as veMENTO, you:

• Gain voting rights in protocol governance decisions, like upgrades and incentive allocation
• Signal long-term alignment with the growth of the ecosystem

The longer you lock, the greater your voting power. Locking for the whole two-year period gives you the maximum voting weight.

Why Lock MENTO?

Mento’s governance and incentive design is built to reward active contributors and long-term believers. By locking MENTO, you get to have a say in key proposals—like the community vote on MENTO token transferability or the vote on the token buyback. The Mento Protocol earns revenue from various sources, including reserve yield, swap fees, and interest rates, which currently accrue entirely to the decentralized Reserve. Participating in Mento governance will enable you to have a say in how these funds are allocated towards future incentives, rewards, and potentially token buy-backs, all subject to governance.

By locking your MENTO tokens, you're not only gaining influence—you're also participating in protocol income aligned with the protocol’s long-term success.

How to Lock Your Tokens

Locking is simple and can be done through the Mento Governance Portal. From there, you can connect your wallet, choose your locking period (from 1 week up to 2 years), and confirm the transaction.

👉 Step-by-step guide:
Visit the Mento governance page, to find out more on how to participate in governance:
https://docs.mento.org/mento/governance-and-token/participating-in-governance

Follow Mento @MentoLabs

Join the Mento Community