Rushi Manche is a software engineer and entrepreneur focused on blockchain development and the Move programming language. He co-founded Movement Labs, integrating Move with Ethereum and improving smart contract security. ^[1]

Career

Manche worked as an accountant at Friendly Tax Service from 2017 to 2020, managing client records in Excel, handling e-filing through TurboTax, and responding to client inquiries. In 2020, he joined EndCoronavirus.org as a frontend developer, contributing to UX/UI design using Next.js, GraphQL, and Node.js, developing real-time data visualizations in Python, and creating content for social media.

In 2021, he worked as a full-stack developer for AntEater, integrating Jira OAuth, utilizing the Jira API for AI tax timesheets, and developing frontend and backend components with Vue.js and Flask. That same year, he worked as a freelance full-stack developer for Stories In The Cloud, updating the user portal with React and Bootstrap, managing DevOps through AWS, and transitioning a PHP backend to Node.js with MySQL integration.

In 2022, he worked as a software engineer at UnitedHealth Group, migrating APIs to AWS cloud infrastructure and transitioning tech stacks to optimize scalability and cost-efficiency. He also founded Ensemble, an AI-powered tutoring platform that provides test preparation resources. Later that year, he worked as a software engineer for Aptos Projects, developing Move smart contracts for a decentralized exchange and cross-chain index funds. In November 2022, he co-founded Movement Labs alongside Cooper Scanlon, working on blockchain development initiatives. ^{[2] [3]}

Interviews

Launching a Token

On the Cryptonews Spotlight YouTube, Manche discussed the launch of the $MOVE token, detailing the challenges of launching a token, including airdrop distribution, exchange listings, and market sentiment. He highlighted that while the team aimed to execute all three factors effectively, they were uncertain about the launch’s outcome. Despite initial skepticism toward the Move programming language, Movement Labs positioned itself as a leader in the Move ecosystem by focusing on community building and adoption. Manche emphasized that the project seeks not to compete with other chains but to expand Move’s presence, particularly within Ethereum. While initially identifying as an Ethereum Layer 2, he acknowledged that Movement Labs now leans toward an L1 narrative. He also noted that the crypto industry's competitive landscape often focuses on internal rivalries rather than broader growth, which he sees as a fundamental mistake. ^[4]

About $MOVE Launch

On the Empire podcast, Manche discussed how Movement Labs' token launch was a highly stressful period, with last-minute decisions and unpredictable market conditions shaping the process. He described the launch strategy as balancing three key elements: the airdrop, sentiment, and ecosystem readiness. Unlike traditional stock IPOs, crypto token launches involved uncertainties with exchange listings, market makers, and investor expectations, often finalized only hours before launch. The Movement Labs team faced intense pressure, working long hours and experiencing significant burnout. Manche emphasized that timing played a crucial role, with favorable market conditions influencing the decision to proceed. Despite the challenges, he believed the launch was successful, attributing it to preparation and luck. He also reflected on Movement Labs' origins, recalling the financial struggles of its early days and highlighting the importance of community in building a blockchain ecosystem. ^[5]

Future of DeFi

On the Global Blockchain Show podcast, Manche discussed Movement, a project integrating the Move virtual machine into Ethereum to enhance security and transaction efficiency. Movement differentiates itself from traditional Ethereum Layer-2 solutions by offering faster execution, improved developer experience, and formal verification to reduce smart contract vulnerabilities. Originally developed by Facebook for its now-defunct Diem blockchain, the Move programming language has gained traction, particularly in Asia. Manche highlighted the growing adoption of Move-based projects, the limitations of existing Ethereum Layer-2s, and Movement’s role in advancing secure decentralized finance. He also detailed Movement’s early struggles, including bootstrapping efforts and its expansion to a 42-person team. The project focuses on developer engagement, community building, and positioning itself as a leading alternative execution environment within Web3. ^[6]

About Movement Labs

In an interview with Neo News Today at Permissionless III 2024, Manche discussed his background in distributed systems and early involvement in blockchain, including work on Ethereum, EOS, and Cosmos, before co-founding Movement Labs to integrate the Move programming language with Ethereum. He explained that Movement Labs built an Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) supporting Solidity and Move to improve transaction throughput and security. Manche compared Move’s potential adoption to past shifts in web development languages and noted increasing interest from Rust developers and Web2 engineers. He highlighted Movement Labs’ partnerships with developers and venture capital firms, emphasizing the ecosystem's focus on secure DeFi and consumer applications. Addressing broader industry trends, he argued that modularity remains essential despite Solana’s recent success, pointing out that even Solana is incorporating modular elements. Regarding Ethereum’s role, he suggested that while L2s may divert some value from the base layer, they ultimately contribute to Ethereum’s function as a global settlement layer. He also acknowledged Movement Labs’ exploration of Bitcoin and TON for settlement. Lastly, he noted the growing presence of policymakers at crypto conferences and expressed a commitment to advocating for regulatory clarity in the U.S. ^[7]

Presentations

Hack Summit Keynote

Manche spoke at Hack Summit 2024 about integrating the Move Virtual Machine (Move VM) with Ethereum to enhance smart contract security. He outlined his engineering background and blockchain security experience, explaining how high gas fees and frequent hacks on Ethereum led him to explore Move. He detailed Movement Labs’ development of M2, a Move-based rollup leveraging zero-knowledge proofs for improved scalability and security. Manche discussed Move’s origins in Facebook’s Diem project, emphasizing its formal verification capabilities to prevent vulnerabilities common in Solidity-based smart contracts. He also highlighted Movement Labs’ decentralized sequencer network, which aims to prevent downtime and introduce censorship-resistant security mechanisms. The presentation concluded with a focus on DeFi applications and potential insurance solutions to mitigate smart contract risks. ^[8]

Panels

Faster Blockchains

The panel at Mainnet 2024 discussed advancements in blockchain speed, with panelists Keone Hon (Monad), Jay Jog (Sei), Kunal Goel (Messari), and Manche outlining their approaches. Monad prioritized maximizing performance with minimal hardware through innovations like MonadDB and parallel execution. Sei focused on scaling the EVM with high throughput and low finality time, while Movement Labs emphasized smart contract security via formal verification. The discussion explored trade-offs between modular and monolithic architectures, with modularity enabling experimentation but adding complexity. Panelists debated whether Layer 1 chains should be opinionated or permissionless and considered the potential for Layer 2 solutions on Monad. They concluded that efficient computation density should come first before scaling through additional layers and discussed decentralized applications where blockchain verifiability is most valuable. ^[9]