A Complete Guide on Monad Testnet

You’re tired of paying $12 to mint a pixelated fish.

You’ve waited five minutes too long for a simple swap to go through. And frankly, Ethereum sometimes feels like dial-up compared to what’s possible today.

Enter Monad – a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain that speaks fluent Ethereum, but moves at lightspeed.

It’s testnet season, and whether you’re a builder, tester, or degen with good taste, Monad’s playground is worth exploring.

In this guide, we will walk you through:

• What Monad is (and why people are buzzing)
• How to get started (wallets, tokens, setup)
• What you can do on Monad testnet (hint: a lot)
• How to deploy smart contracts (Foundry, Hardhat, Remix style)
• And yes, a word on that rumored airdrop 👀

Let’s go.

What is a Monad (and why should you care)?

If you’ve spent time on Ethereum, you’ve probably run into at least one of the Big Three problems: it’s slow, expensive, or occasionally congested to the point of unusable.

This is what we call the blockchain trilemma, the idea that decentralized systems can optimize for only two of the following three: scalability, security, and decentralization.

Most chains make tradeoffs. Monad is trying not to.
 

So what is a Monad, exactly?

Monad is a new Layer-1 blockchain that’s:

• Built from scratch
• EVM-equivalent (not just compatible)
• Insanely performant
• And laser-focused on parallel execution

The goal? Deliver the full Ethereum developer and user experience — same wallets, same Solidity contracts, same infra — but turbocharged under the hood.

Here are the headline stats:

• 10,000 transactions per second (TPS)
• ~0.5 second block times
• 1-second finality
• 100% Ethereum bytecode-compatible

That means Monad can process transactions roughly 1,000x faster than Ethereum, while still letting you copy-paste the same Solidity contract and use tools like Hardhat, Foundry, or MetaMask without missing a beat.

But how does it pull that off?
 

The secret sauce is optimistic parallel execution

Here’s where Monad starts flexing.

Ethereum — and most EVM chains — process transactions serially. Every tx goes through one by one, in the exact order they appear in the block. This prevents conflicts but creates a huge bottleneck: one slow tx can delay the entire chain.

Monad flips this model.

It uses optimistic parallel execution, where transactions are executed concurrently across multiple threads, assuming most don’t conflict. It’s “optimistic” because Monad assumes txs will behave nicely — and only re-runs them if there’s a state conflict.

So instead of:

Tx1 → Tx2 → Tx3 → Tx4 → ... (serial execution)

Monad does:

[Tx1, Tx2, Tx3, Tx4] → all processed in parallel → check for conflicts → rollback/re-execute only if needed

This alone gives a massive performance boost, but it doesn’t stop there.
 

Async everything: decoupling consensus from execution

Another innovation: asynchronous execution.

Most blockchains tightly couple consensus (agreeing on the order of transactions) with execution (actually running them). That means the network must wait for txs to be executed before finalizing the block.

Monad decouples these processes. Using its own Byzantine Fault Tolerant protocol — MonadBFT — it reaches consensus on block ordering first. Then it executes the block after it’s finalized. This way, consensus doesn’t block execution, and execution doesn’t delay consensus.

So while Ethereum might wait ~12 seconds for a block to be created, propagated, and executed — Monad can:

• Finalize a block in ~1s
• Start executing it immediately
• And simultaneously begin consensus on the next block
   

MonadDB: a new high-performance state layer

Underpinning this execution engine is MonadDB, a custom-built state database optimized for parallel access and low-latency reads/writes.

State access — reading balances, updating smart contract storage, etc. — is a big bottleneck in high-throughput chains. MonadDB is engineered to handle parallelized access patterns, caching, and indexing in a way that allows multiple threads to interact with the state trie without stepping on each other’s toes.
 

This is critical to make optimistic parallel execution feasible — you need a DB that doesn’t become your new bottleneck.
 

Still EVM at heart

Despite all these innovations, Monad keeps one thing sacred: Ethereum compatibility.

It executes unmodified Ethereum bytecode, supports the latest EIPs (up to Cancun at the time of writing), and uses:

• Ethereum’s address format
• EIP-1559-style transactions
• Standard RPC APIs
• Same tools and wallets

That means no need to learn a new VM, language, or developer stack. If it works on Ethereum, it works on Monad — just faster, cheaper, and without the L2 weirdness (bridges, rollup withdrawal delays, etc.).
 

Monad vs Ethereum

Setting up your wallet (the 2-minute starter pack)

Step 1: Pick a wallet. Monad works with MetaMask, Phantom (in Ethereum mode), Zerion, Backpack, OKX Wallet, and Uniswap Wallet.
 

Step 2: Add Monad Testnet.

• Easy mode: Go to testnet.monad.xyz – wallets like Phantom or Backpack will auto-add the network.
• Manual mode (MetaMask etc.):

Network Name: Monad Testnet RPC 
URL: https://testnet-rpc.monad.xyz  
Chain ID: 10143 
Currency Symbol: MON 
Block Explorer: https://testnet.monadexplorer.com

Step 3: Grab some MON tokens (testnet gas). Use the faucet on testnet.monad.xyz, or try these backups:

• QuickNode Faucet (1 drip/12 hrs)
• ThirdWeb Faucet
• aPriori auto-staking faucet
• GasZip faucet

Note: You’re charged based on gas limit, not gas used. So don’t go crazy with the gas settings. But also, it’s testnet – gas is practically free.

Making your first moves: swaps, transfers, and speedruns

Once you’re in, try a swap. Monad has Uniswap running on testnet (v2 and v3 factories deployed).

• Go to testnet.monad.xyz → use the Uniswap widget
• Or visit Uniswap’s site and toggle Testnet Mode

You can also:

• Transfer MON to another wallet (instant confirmation)
• Try MetaMask’s swap interface
• Deploy a token on nad.fun (more on that in a sec)

Gas fees is negligible. Confirmations are basically instant.

Monad supports contracts up to 128 KB (vs 24 KB on Ethereum). That means no more slicing your smart contract like pizza slices. Just deploy it whole.
 

What’s Live on Monad Testnet?

Once you’ve set up your wallet and claimed some test MON, it’s time to dive into the real reason you’re here: playing with apps, minting weird NFTs, and clicking shiny buttons with no real financial risk.

Even though Monad’s testnet only launched in early 2025, there’s already a surprisingly vibrant ecosystem to explore. And it’s growing fast — thanks to builder incentives, hackathons, and the buzz around a potential future airdrop.

Here’s a detailed look at what you can currently mess around with on Monad testnet (and why each is worth your time):

1. Fantasy Top – Fantasy sports meets Crypto Twitter meets NFTs

This one’s probably the most original dApp live on Monad right now.

Fantasy Top lets you draft decks of NFT “players” – but instead of football stars, your players are crypto influencers. Vitalik? Check. Cobie? Maybe. Some obscure sh*tposter who gets 100k likes on memes? Also fair game.

Every week, your team competes based on how much engagement (likes, reposts, etc.) your chosen influencers get on Twitter. It’s like fantasy football, but for crypto degenerates.

On Monad testnet:

• You can claim free card packs (no need to pay gas or mint fees)
• Join testnet-only tournaments
• Win leaderboard points or potential future prizes
• Trade cards with others (yes, you can speculate on who’s about to go viral)

It’s social-fi with real gameplay loops — and no downside since it’s testnet. Even if you don’t care about Twitter drama, it’s worth experiencing just for the novelty.
 

2. Magic Eden – NFT minting, trading, and collecting

magiceden.io → switch to Monad Testnet

Yep, the Solana-born, now multi-chain NFT giant Magic Eden is supporting Monad. That alone says something.

On Monad’s testnet section of Magic Eden, you’ll find:

• Collections like Monad Penguins, MonSharks, and Monad Pad
• Some free mints to claim testnet NFTs
• The same UX you’re used to, just… way faster and with zero gas

You can mint, list, buy, or just collect NFTs for fun. Since gas is practically free and transactions are instant, it’s a great way to test the UX of NFT platforms on Monad — especially if you’re an NFT project planning to deploy later.

Also, watch out for limited drops and testnet-only campaigns. Some users reported surprise snapshots or perks tied to specific collections. It’s worth minting at least one thing just in case.
 

3. aPriori & Magma – Testnet staking and liquid staking protocols

stake.apr.io | magmastaking.xyz

Both of these platforms let you do something Ethereum users are all too familiar with: stake your tokens and receive a liquid token in return.

On Monad testnet, here’s how it works:

• You stake MON (testnet token)
• aPriori gives you APR tokens, Magma gives you stMON or similar derivatives
• You can sometimes use these tokens elsewhere (e.g., in swaps or as collateral)
• Magma has a points system that may reward users later

There’s no real economic value yet, of course, but it’s an excellent way to simulate what staking might look like on Monad mainnet. Plus, these protocols often collect user data for airdrop snapshots or reward campaigns.

Advanced tip: aPriori has a faucet that stakes your MON for you, so you don’t even need to manually stake if you just want to test it passively.
 

4. Nad Name Service (.nad domains) – Like ENS, but faster and funnier

This one blew up fast.

Within a week of launching, over 640,000 .nad domains were minted. That’s wild — and a clear sign that people are loving the low cost and speed of Monad.

Just like ENS, Nad Name Service lets you:

• Register a .nad domain (e.g., quill.nad, wagmi.nad, or probablynothing.nad)
• Attach it to your wallet address
• Use it to receive MON or identify your testnet identity
• Trade it (since each name is minted as an NFT)

Registration costs a few cents worth of MON — basically nothing. And the UI is slick and simple. Try grabbing a name (especially if you care about airdrop optics — NNS users are definitely on-chain and active).

Bonus: Nad domains sometimes show up inside other dApps too, as wallet identifiers. And just like early ENS holders, you might end up with a collectible from the early days.
 

5. nad.fun – Launch your own memecoin in minutes

Want to feel like a founder? Or just want to meme with friends?

nad.fun is your playground. It’s a click-and-deploy token launcher that:

• Lets you name your token (e.g., COOL, VITALIK, GMI)
• Set a supply
• Launch it as a real ERC-20 token on Monad testnet
• Start trading it instantly (via a built-in swap UI)

This is one of the most fun tools on Monad right now. You can test:

• Deploying a token
• Sending it to friends
• Adding liquidity (if supported)
• Trading user-generated tokens

It’s a low-stakes way to experiment with tokenomics, UI/UX flows, and community building — or just make something dumb for your friend group.

Some people are even tracking how many tokens they create and trade as part of their “airdrop participation checklist.” Just saying.
 

6. Owlto Finance – Cross-chain bridge infrastructure

While Monad is still in testnet, Owlto has already integrated support to showcase how bridging might work.

What you can do:

• Deploy a demo bridge contract on Monad testnet
• Simulate transfers or test UX for future bridging flows
• Try switching from other testnets (if Owlto supports them)

For now, it’s mostly a “builder playground” rather than a must-try for casual users. But if you’re a dev or curious about infra, it’s worth poking around.
 

7. Curvance – Full DeFi testbed: lending, borrowing, minting

Curvance is one of the most active dApps on Monad testnet. It lets you:

• Deposit MON as collateral
• Mint a test stablecoin
• Lend or borrow other test assets
• Track your DeFi positions via a dashboard

What makes Curvance interesting is that it’s not just a single DeFi action — it lets you string together multiple transactions. You can stake, borrow, repay, and withdraw — all within the Monad testnet environment.

And guess what? You earn “Bytes”, which are their version of testnet points or participation scores. Could these be useful later? Possibly. But even if not, it’s great practice for using real DeFi apps.

It’s also a strong test of Monad’s performance — with lots of backend calls, real-time feedback, and complex smart contracts. If something breaks or lags, you’re helping test the limits (and developers want that feedback).
 

For devs: deploying contracts (foundry, hardhat, remix)

Option A: Foundry

Set RPC to https://testnet-rpc.monad.xyz, chainId 10143. Use cast wallet new to get a key, import it, and deploy with:

Option B: Hardhat

Add this to hardhat.config.js:

Deploy with:

Option C: Remix

• Go to remix.ethereum.org
• Connect MetaMask (on Monad network)
• Write → Compile → Deploy

Easy mode. Works great for quick tests.

Things to note:

• Contracts can be big (128 KB cap)
• You’re charged gas based on limit, not usage
• Fast finality = faster script confirmations

Will there be an airdrop? - Maybe

Look, nobody can promise anything. But the signals are there:

• Monad is backed by Paradigm, Coinbase Ventures, etc.
• Galxe quests (First Call, Second Call…) reward points for doing things
• DeFi protocols like Curvance and Magma track activity
• .nad mints, Uniswap swaps, staking, NFT mints… all seem like breadcrumbs

History rhymes. Optimism, Blur, Arbitrum all rewarded early users who showed up, tried things, and stuck around. Monad could follow suit.

Best strategy? Be active. Diversify actions. Have fun.

The vibe check: community, support, and what’s next

Monad’s Discord is active.

So is Twitter. There’s a dev server, a general chat, and even a meme channel (of course). Ask questions, report bugs, or flex your .nad domain.

Want to go deeper?

• Monad’s docs are excellent
• Devs can join future hackathons, like Monad Madness
• Mainnet is expected later in 2025

The testnet is more than a sandbox. It’s a signal: Monad is serious about performance, compatibility, and community. And if it lives up to the hype, you’ll be glad you were early.
 

Final thoughts

Monad testnet is fast, free, and kind of addicting. Whether you're swapping tokens, minting NFTs, deploying contracts, or building something fresh — you're contributing to an ecosystem still taking shape.

And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be rewarded for it.

So go on – connect your wallet, claim your MON, mint that cursed NFT, and let’s see what this gmonad world has in store.

See you on-chain.