Imagine a blockchain where transactions confirm in a second, fees are almost zero, and developers can use all their existing Ethereum tools. This is the promise of Monad, a new Layer‑1 network generating serious excitement. Backed by significant institutional investment, Monad is emerging as a potential “Solana Killer” for its breakthrough performance and is a strong contender in building an ultra‑scalable network for DeFi and consumer apps. In this article, we explore Monad’s key technological innovations, compare it to Solana, and detail the vision of its team—focusing on the groundbreaking applications that become possible on such an ultra‑scaled platform.
First let’s take a quick look at Monad’s claims of 10,000 TPS.
TPS Comparison: Throughput Matters (But It’s Not the Only Metric)
Transaction Per Second (TPS) is a key indicator of a blockchain’s throughput and capacity, yet it doesn’t capture other critical factors such as security, finality, decentralisation, and ease of developer adoption. While a higher TPS figure suggests the potential for processing more transactions, it is important to consider the overall architecture and user experience. For instance, Ethereum L1’s sequential processing limits its TPS to around 15, whereas Layer‑2 solutions improve this figure at the cost of added complexity. In contrast, Monad’s architecture enables a native TPS of 10,000—making it highly attractive for high‑volume, real‑time applications.
High TPS is critical for payment processors because it means the ability to handle an enormous volume of transactions per second without delay. For instance, global payment networks like Visa are engineered to support peak throughput of around 24,000 TPS, while Mastercard operates on a similar scale to ensure that millions of transactions—ranging from everyday small purchases to high-value payments—are processed swiftly and securely. This level of throughput is essential not only for meeting the demand during peak times but also for reducing latency, lowering the risk of transaction backlogs, and providing a seamless customer experience. In a blockchain context, achieving high TPS, such as the 10,000 TPS promised by platforms like Monad, is seen as a significant advancement, potentially enabling decentralised payment systems to approach the efficiency of traditional global payment processors. However, while high TPS is a key metric for throughput, payment processors also prioritize reliability, security, and compliance with financial regulations.
So how does Monad achieve these impressive metrics?
Monad’s Technological Innovations and Performance Edge
Monad was built from the ground up to overcome the blockchain trilemma—achieving “speed without sacrifice” by ensuring high throughput without compromising security or decentralisation. It accomplishes this through several engineering breakthroughs that dramatically improve performance compared to existing blockchains:
Parallel Execution of Transactions
Unlike traditional blockchains that execute transactions sequentially, Monad processes many transactions simultaneously through Optimistic Parallel Execution. By assuming transactions can run in parallel and then verifying outputs for conflicts, Monad achieves astonishing speeds—demonstrated at up to 10,000 transactions per second (TPS). (For context, this is roughly 1 billion transactions per day compared to about 1 million on Ethereum’s mainnet.)
Asynchronous Execution
Monad decouples the process of reaching consensus from executing transactions. With Asynchronous Execution, the network finalizes transaction ordering quickly while processing them in parallel afterward. This model enables 1‑second block times and guarantees single‑slot finality, meaning that once a block is produced, it is immediately final.
MonadBFT Consensus
To secure the network, Monad uses a custom Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) proof‑of‑stake consensus mechanism called MonadBFT. Based on HotStuff but optimized by reducing communication rounds from three to two, MonadBFT confirms transactions almost instantly while maintaining robust security.
MonadDB (Custom State Storage)
Monad introduces MonadDB, a custom state database designed specifically for the EVM. By natively storing Ethereum’s Merkle Patricia Trie data both on‑disk and in‑memory, MonadDB significantly speeds up state access. This design allows nodes to store most state on SSDs rather than expensive RAM, reducing hardware costs and promoting broader network decentralisation.
EVM Compatibility and Tooling
Despite all the new innovations, Monad remains 100% EVM‑compatible. Developers can deploy Solidity smart contracts without modification and use familiar tools (such as MetaMask and Hardhat). This seamless compatibility allows the vibrant Ethereum ecosystem to migrate to Monad—gaining the advantages of ultra‑high throughput and near‑zero fees.
Is This the "Solana Killer"?
While Solana is widely recognized for its speed and scalability, Monad takes a different approach that positions it as a serious competitor—or even a “Solana Killer.”
- Technology and Architecture: Unlike Solana’s Proof‑of‑History sequencing, Monad employs Optimistic Parallel Execution and Asynchronous Execution to process transactions in parallel while preserving full EVM compatibility.
- Developer Ecosystem: Monad’s complete EVM compatibility allows developers to migrate existing Ethereum dApps without learning new programming languages, offering a significant advantage over Solana’s Rust‑centric environment.
- decentralisation and Hardware Requirements: With its efficient state management via MonadDB, Monad can operate on consumer‑grade hardware, enabling wider decentralisation compared to the higher resource demands of Solana.
- Deterministic Finality: Although Solana boasts sub‑second block times, Monad’s 1‑second single‑slot finality provides predictable, unchangeable transaction confirmations—crucial for applications requiring absolute certainty.
In summary, while Solana remains a leader in high‑throughput blockchains, Monad’s unique blend of EVM compatibility, ultra‑high scalability, and accessible decentralisation positions it as a potential “Solana Killer” for developers and users seeking a more versatile Layer‑1 solution.
Ultra‑Scalable Application Use-Cases Enabled by Monad
- High‑Frequency Trading Platforms and decentralised Exchanges (DEXs): Require real‑time order matching and extremely low latency, which Monad’s 10,000 TPS and 1‑second finality can deliver—capabilities not achievable on Ethereum L1.
- Real‑Time Multiplayer Gaming and Virtual Worlds: Demand rapid state updates and minimal latency; Monad’s parallel and asynchronous execution enables smooth, interactive experiences.
- decentralised Social Media and Content Platforms: Need to support millions of interactions with minimal fees and near‑instant confirmations, possible only on an ultra‑scalable blockchain like Monad.
- IoT and Supply Chain Solutions: Benefit from processing massive volumes of low‑value transactions quickly, a feature that Monad’s architecture is specifically designed to handle.
- Micropayments and Content Monetization: Near‑zero gas fees enable economically viable micropayment systems that Ethereum L1’s high fees generally prohibit.
Why Ethereum L1 Falls Short:
Ethereum L1 is fundamentally limited by sequential transaction processing and low throughput (typically around 10–15 TPS), leading to high gas fees and long confirmation times under heavy load. These constraints make it impractical to build real‑time, high‑volume applications directly on Ethereum L1. Although Layer‑2 solutions (like Optimistic or ZK‑Rollups) can scale throughput and lower fees, they introduce additional complexity and may compromise certain security or decentralisation guarantees. In contrast, Monad’s architecture is purpose‑built to overcome these limitations at the Layer‑1 level.
The Team and Vision Behind Monad
Monad Labs was founded in 2022 by a trio with deep expertise in high‑performance systems and blockchain technology:
- Keone Hon (CEO): A Harvard‑educated computer scientist who previously led a high‑frequency trading team at Jump Trading.
- James Hunsaker (CTO): Brings extensive experience in low‑latency systems and trading technology from his time at Jump Trading and major financial institutions.
- Eunice Giarta (COO): An MIT‑trained engineer with a strong background in financial systems from her work at BofA Merrill Lynch.
Their vision is to overcome the performance limitations of current blockchains without sacrificing decentralisation or compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem. With significant institutional backing, the team is building a platform that supports robust, decentralised applications—from high‑frequency trading to real‑time gaming and beyond.
Why You Should Care About Monad?
Monad is likely coming to market in 2025, and its ultra‑scalable design is poised to transform the decentralised application landscape. Often touted as a potential “Solana Killer,” Monad’s revolutionary architecture challenges and surpasses the performance benchmarks set by Solana by combining full EVM compatibility, ultra‑high throughput, and low hardware requirements. Ethereum L1’s inherent limitations—such as low TPS and high fees—make it unsuitable for real‑time, high‑volume applications, while Layer‑2 solutions add complexity. In contrast, Monad’s design enables applications like high‑frequency trading, immersive gaming, social media, IoT, and micropayments to operate seamlessly. With many bright builders and innovative teams already participating in early hackathons, Monad is building up to be one of the most exciting blockchain launches of 2025. If you’re looking to tap into the next generation of scalable decentralised applications, Monad is a project you definitely should watch.
To learn more, reach-out to the Pier Two team to connect.
