What Is Monad (MON), the EVM-Compatible Layer-1 Blockchain?

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  • 9 min
  • Published on 2025-10-13
  • Last update: 2025-10-13
 
Monad (MON) is an Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 blockchain that launched its public testnet on February 19, 2025, aiming to deliver up to 10,000 transactions per second with sub-second finality and low fees.
 
Interest in Monad surged after the team confirmed that its airdrop claim portal will open on October 14, 2025, signaling the start of its token rollout and upcoming mainnet launch. Built for speed, scalability, and full EVM compatibility, Monad is positioning itself as one of 2025’s most anticipated blockchain projects.
 
This article covers how Monad works, what makes it different from Ethereum and other EVM-chains, its tokenomics and airdrop details, and how to trade MON after listing on BingX.

What Is Monad (MON) and How Does It Work?

 
Monad (MON) is a high-performance Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 blockchain built to make transactions faster, cheaper, and more efficient. It can process up to 10,000 transactions per second with 400 millisecond block times and 800 millisecond finality, giving users near-instant confirmations and developers more room to scale their applications.
 
Monad’s high performance makes it ideal for DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, on-chain games, and real-time Web3 social apps that demand speed and low fees. By maintaining full compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), Monad allows projects to easily migrate existing smart contracts and tap into faster execution without rewriting code.

How Monad Delivers Faster and Cheaper Transactions

1. MonadBFT Consensus: Monad finalizes blocks in less than a second, so transactions confirm almost instantly. This reduces waiting time for users and makes apps feel as fast as traditional web services.
 
2. RaptorCast Networking: The network uses a smarter way to send data between validators, allowing more transactions to pass through without congestion. As a result, users experience lower gas fees and smoother performance during busy periods.
 
3. Asynchronous Execution: Monad processes consensus and execution at the same time instead of one after another. This keeps the network responsive and prevents slowdowns, even under heavy usage.
 
4. Parallel Execution: Multiple transactions can run at once across different cores. This allows many users to interact with apps simultaneously, improving speed for DeFi, gaming, and other high-traffic applications.
 
5. MonadDB: The blockchain’s custom database makes data access faster and more efficient. Wallets load quicker, transactions update in real time, and apps run more smoothly.
 
In short, Monad combines the familiarity of Ethereum with faster transaction speed, lower costs, and a better user experience for both developers and everyday users.

What Does EVM-Compatible Mean?

EVM-compatible means a blockchain can run Ethereum-based smart contracts and decentralized applications using the same tools, wallets, and programming languages. The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) executes these contracts, and chains that replicate it, such as Monad, BNB Chain, and Avalanche, let developers and users move easily across ecosystems.
 
For Monad, this means developers can deploy existing Ethereum dApps without changing code, and users can interact with them through familiar wallets like MetaMask. This compatibility allows Monad to inherit Ethereum’s ecosystem while offering faster transactions, lower fees, and greater scalability.
 
• For users: Faster, cheaper, and smoother blockchain interactions, with sub-second confirmations and simple onboarding through Ethereum-compatible wallets.
 
• For developers: The same Solidity-based tools and workflows, but with higher throughput and lower latency, enabling larger-scale dApps and better performance.
 
In short, Monad combines Ethereum’s developer-friendly ecosystem with next-generation speed and efficiency.

Monad vs. Ethereum vs. BNB and Other EVM-Compatible L1 Chains: A Comparison

Monad sets a new performance benchmark for Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 blockchains. While networks like BNB Chain and Avalanche have improved speed through optimizations, Monad rebuilds the execution layer to achieve higher throughput and faster finality without compromising decentralization.
 
  Ethereum Other EVM Chains (BNB Chain, Avalanche) Monad
Transaction Speed 15–30 TPS - BNB: ~260–2,500 TPS
- Avalanche: ~300–4,500 TPS
Up to 10,000 TPS
Finality 10–60 seconds - BNB: ~1 second
- Avalanche: ~1–2 seconds
0.8 seconds
Gas Fees High during congestion - BNB: Moderate
- Avalanche: Low to moderate
Low and predictable
Developer Tools Native EVM - BNB / Avalanche: Fully EVM-compatible (Solidity, MetaMask, Hardhat supported) Fully EVM-compatible
Scalability Limited - BNB: Moderate
- Avalanche: Moderate to high
High scalability at Layer 1
Decentralization Strong - BNB: Moderate
- Avalanche: Moderate
Globally distributed validators
 
 
Monad delivers the performance of next-generation blockchains while keeping the full flexibility and accessibility of Ethereum. By combining high throughput, low fees, and native EVM compatibility, it positions itself as one of the fastest and most developer-friendly Layer 1 blockchains in 2025.

EVM-Compatible Layer 1 vs Ethereum Layer 2: What’s the Difference?

Both EVM-compatible Layer 1 chains and Ethereum Layer 2 networks aim to make transactions faster and cheaper, but they work differently.
 
• EVM-compatible Layer 1s focus on independence and high performance. Chains such as Monad, BNB Chain, and Avalanche are standalone blockchains that share Ethereum’s programming environment but run their own consensus systems. This gives them greater control over speed, scalability, and gas efficiency.
 
Ethereum Layer 2s focus on security and deep integration with Ethereum. Networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base are built on top of Ethereum, processing transactions off-chain and posting proofs back to the mainnet. This leverages Ethereum’s security but introduces more dependency and operational complexity.
 
Monad belongs to the first group, offering full EVM compatibility with faster transactions, lower fees, and native scalability.
 
 
  EVM-Compatible Layer 1
(Monad, BNB Chain, Avalanche)
Ethereum Layer 2
(Arbitrum, Optimism, Base)
Network Type Independent blockchain with its own validators Layer built on top of Ethereum
Transaction Speed 200–10,000 TPS depending on network design 20–4,000 TPS within rollups, slower finality due to Ethereum settlement
Gas Fees Typically $0.01–$0.05 per transaction Often under $0.01 but includes posting costs to Ethereum
Finality Sub-second to 2 seconds 1–10 minutes depending on L1 confirmation time
Security Model Secured by its own consensus mechanism Inherits Ethereum’s base-layer security
Independence Fully autonomous Dependent on Ethereum mainnet availability
 

What’s Monad (MON) Tokenomics?

MON is the native utility and governance token of the Monad network. It serves as the backbone of the ecosystem, enabling transactions, staking, and decentralized governance across the network.

Monad (MON) Token Utilities

• Transaction Fees: Used to pay gas for transfers and smart contract execution.
 
• Staking: Validators stake MON to secure the network and earn rewards.
 
• Governance: Token holders can vote on protocol upgrades and community proposals.

Monad (MON) Token Allocation

According to a post on X by Monad’s co-founder and general manager Keone Hon, Monad has a total supply of 100,000,000,000 MON. The team has not yet released the full tokenomics breakdown, which will be announced closer to the mainnet launch later in 2025. The airdrop claim portal will open earlier, on October 14, 2025, marking the start of MON’s token distribution process.
 

When Is the Monad Airdrop and Token Release?

The Monad airdrop will distribute a portion of MON tokens to users as part of the network’s early launch campaign. According to the Monad announcement on X, the team has confirmed that the claims portal will open on October 14, 2025, allowing eligible users to claim MON once the portal goes live.
 
However, Monad has not yet published eligibility rules, allocation amounts, or vesting details. A representative clarified that only the claims portal opens on that day, not the mainnet or the full token distribution.
 
Many users have been active on the testnet, but Monad has not confirmed whether this activity will count toward airdrop eligibility. Until official criteria are released, treat claims about snapshot dates or points systems as unverified.
 

$MON Token Market Valuation (Pre-Launch Trading)

Before its official listing, MON began trading on BingX through pre-launch perpetual contracts. Prices have ranged between $0.06 and $0.15, implying a fully diluted valuation (FDV) between $6 billion and $15 billion, according to BingX Perps Market report.
 

How to Trade MON on BingX Before Listing

Before the official spot listing, traders can get early exposure to MON through the BingX Perpetual Futures Market. The MON/USDT perpetual contract lets you go long or short on MON’s price without holding the token itself.
 
1. Search for MON/USDT: Go to the BingX Perpetual Futures Market and enter MON/USDT in the search bar.
 
2. Select your direction: Choose Long (Buy) if you expect the price to rise, or Short (Sell) if you expect it to fall.
 
3. Set leverage and order type: Adjust leverage and choose a market or limit order based on your strategy.
 
4. Manage your position: Use stop-loss and take-profit tools to manage risk and secure profits.
 
5. Monitor the market: Track price movement and volatility with BingX AI insights before the token’s official launch.
 
Tip: Perpetual contracts carry leverage and higher risk. Trade cautiously and always set a stop-loss.
 

How to Trade MON on BingX After Listing

After MON is listed, you can still gain exposure through the MON/USDT Perpetual Futures mentioned in the previous section, or trade the token directly on the Spot Market.
 
Before trading, make sure deposits are open on BingX. Once your airdropped tokens are credited, send a small test amount first to confirm the transaction, then proceed with the rest.
 
For Spot Trading
1. Transfer your MON: Move your tokens from your wallet to your BingX account using the verified MON deposit address.
 
2. Search for MON/USDT: Head to the BingX Spot Market and enter MON/USDT in the search bar to find the trading pair.
 
3. Place an order: Choose between a market order for instant execution or a limit order to set your preferred price.
 
4. Track your position: Watch price movements and manage open orders directly from your trading dashboard.
 
5. Decide your approach: You can hold MON on BingX for long-term use or trade it actively depending on market conditions.
 
Tip: Listing periods often bring sharp price swings. Use limit orders to avoid slippage and trade with caution during high volatility.

Final Thoughts

Monad is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Layer 1 launches of 2025. By combining full EVM compatibility with faster confirmation times, higher throughput, and lower fees, it aims to extend Ethereum’s developer ecosystem to a more scalable environment.
 
With the airdrop claim portal opening on October 14, 2025, and trading soon to follow on BingX, users will finally get a first look at how Monad performs in action. Remember to rely only on official sources and be cautious of unofficial claim links or rumors.

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