Rome Protocol’s Imperia NFT Mint Date Announced

Rome Protocol, backed by a substantial $9 million seed round led by Hack VC and Portal Ventures with participation from Solana founder Anatoly Yakovenko, is set to launch its foundational NFT collection on October 14, 2025. The Imperia: Rome Citizens collection represents more than traditional digital collectibles—it serves as the cornerstone of what the protocol describes as ‘Rome’s on-chain empire.’ Priced at 0.753 SOL and launching exclusively through Magic Eden, these 10,000 NFTs are positioned as digital citizenships that grant holders privileged access to the expanding Rome ecosystem.

The collection’s total supply of 10,000 NFTs will be released in phases, with Season 1 comprising 3,677 tokens. The mint structure includes 556 NFTs reserved for guaranteed whitelist participants, 1,444 for overallocated whitelist, and 1,677 available through public sale on a first-come, first-served basis. This tiered approach reflects the protocol’s strategy to reward early supporters while maintaining accessibility for the broader Solana community.

What sets Imperia: Rome Citizens apart from conventional NFT projects is their functional role within the Rome Protocol ecosystem. These NFTs are designed to serve as the foundation for Rome’s identity and participation layer, offering holders tangible benefits that extend beyond speculative value. The utility includes early access to leaderboards, class-based campaigns, and quests that will drive engagement within the protocol’s expanding network.

Holders will gain eligibility for partner activations and ecosystem rewards, positioning them at the forefront of Rome’s development. Perhaps most significantly, Imperia NFT owners will receive priority access to Rome’s interoperability layer as the mainnet expands, potentially granting enhanced privileges tied to active on-chain participation. This approach transforms the NFTs from passive assets into active membership credentials within a growing blockchain ecosystem.

The $9 million seed funding round, led by Hack VC and Portal Ventures with backing from Solana founder Anatoly Yakovenko, underscores the significant institutional confidence in Rome Protocol’s vision. The protocol aims to address one of blockchain’s most pressing challenges: fragmentation across different networks. By creating an interoperability and settlement layer, Rome Protocol seeks to unify disparate blockchains into what it describes as a connected ’empire.’

Rome Protocol’s technical architecture brings Solana’s performance capabilities to rollups, appchains, and EVM ecosystems. This enables builders to compose atomically across chains, access liquidity seamlessly, and settle securely on L1. The Imperia NFT collection represents the first major public-facing component of this ambitious vision, serving as both an entry point and identity layer for participants in the emerging Rome ecosystem.

With the October 14 mint date approaching, interested participants are directed to check their whitelist eligibility through Rome Protocol’s official website. The protocol has specifically mentioned that early contributors, top Solana NFT holders, and participants in the Megaphone or other Ecosystem Partner Campaigns should verify their status. The whitelist checker at https://www.rome.builders/imperia and the launchpad link at https://magiceden.io/launchpad/solana/imperia provide the necessary resources for preparation.

The pricing at 0.753 SOL positions the Imperia NFTs within the mid-range of Solana NFT launches, making them accessible while maintaining perceived value. The phased mint approach ensures that the most dedicated community members receive priority access, while still reserving a significant portion (1,677 NFTs) for public participation. This balanced distribution strategy reflects Rome Protocol’s commitment to building a sustainable, engaged community around its interoperability vision.