The problem is not related individually to Mintpal. The whole exchange business is a problem. Making some math you end up understanding that an exchange like MP stores and handles several million dollars while their monthly revenues are limited to some 60-90 thousand dollars. We should support and migrate to P2P exchanges and technologies instead.
And exactly how would that work? You and me agree, through chat or e-mail, that I will transfer you 1,000 VRC for whatever amount in BTC (or other coins, fiat included). Do we use an escrow service? or is the buyer forced to trust the seller will send the coins once the irreversible transfer of payment is done?
Take a glance at the following link: https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/p2p-exchange-for-bitcoin-172705
The idea sounds quite attractive... although there would be fees involved, therefore not so advantageous in that regard.
Problem is that I for one -and I believe billions of people around the world- would trust such an enterprise about 2 minutes AFTER Hell freezes over, so why waste energy -much less resources- on something bound to fail miserably when the solution is already in place many decades ago, in the real world?
No matter how much we want to jerk off around the bushes, the solution to most crypto problems, including mass mainstream adoption, passes by REGULATION. When it does arrive -and arrive it will, at least in the US and Europe-, it will be many years too late... even if it were to be imposed tomorrow.
