Ethereum News Today: Monad's Airdrop Strategy Positions It as Ethereum, Solana Rival

Monad Opens Airdrop to Solana Users, Ethereum NFT Holders as MON Launch Nears

The highly anticipated airdrop for Monad's native token, MON, officially opened its claim portal on October 14, 2025, marking a pivotal step for the Ethereum-compatible Layer-1 blockchain project. The airdrop, which targets 5,500 core community members and 225,000 broader crypto users, aims to distribute 100 billion MON tokens to early adopters, testnet participants, and active contributors to the ecosystemMonad Airdrop 2025: Claim Details, Timing, and Eligibility …^[1]. The claim window remains open until November 3, with the Monad Foundation emphasizing a multi-track distribution system spanning five categories: Monad Community, Onchain Users, Crypto Community, Crypto Contributors & Curious, and Monad BuildersMonad Opens Airdrop Portal Ahead of Token Launch^[2].

Eligibility criteria, while not fully disclosed, appear to reward users based on on-chain activity, NFT ownership, and engagement with the project's social channels. Solana users, Ethereum NFT holders, and participants in major DeFi protocols such as Aave, Uniswap, and PancakeSwap are among the likely qualifiersMonad Airdrop Claim Portal Launches October 14: Who Might …^[3]. Additionally, holders of prominent NFT collections like CryptoPunks, Moonbirds, and Pudgy Penguins, as well as active members in the Monad Discord community, are expected to receive allocationsThe Monad Airdrop will include on-chain highly active users, …^[4]. The project also leveraged Trusta AI to filter out sybil addresses, ensuring genuine participationHyperliquid Lists MON, Enabling Pre-Market Trading …^[5].

The airdrop precedes the official mainnet launch of Monad, a blockchain designed to rival Ethereum and Solana with high throughput (10,000 TPS), low latency (400 ms block time), and EVM compatibilityMonad Airdrop Goes Live October 14: Check Eligibility and MON …^[6]. The project, which raised $225 million in 2024, has already seen testnet activity surge, with developers deploying dApps, NFT platforms, and DeFi protocols on the networkMonad Hints at Airdrop as Ethereum and Solana Competitor …^[7]. Keone Hon, Monad's co-founder, advised users to take their time with claims, stating, "There is NO incentive to claiming really fast, so take your time. Triple check everything"Monad Opens Airdrop Portal Ahead of Token Launch^[2].

Pre-market trading of MON tokens began on Hyperliquid, where the token is priced around $0.13, implying a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of approximately $13 billionMON Token News: Hyperliquid Lists Monad Perpetuals …^[8]. The platform introduced "hyperps," a novel perpetual contract type that uses a moving average of the mark price instead of external oracles, to mitigate manipulation risksHyperliquid Lists ^[9]. However, analysts caution that immediate post-launch volatility is likely, given historical patterns where airdrop tokens face selling pressure from early claimantsMonad Airdrop Claim Starts Oct 14: When MON Listing?^[10].

The airdrop's phased distribution strategy, which includes stacking allocations for users active across multiple tracks, reflects Monad's focus on fostering a robust and engaged communityMonad Opens Airdrop Portal Ahead of Token Launch^[2]. The project also plans to reward specific contributors, including auditors, DAO participants, and crypto educatorsHyperliquid Lists MON, Enabling Pre-Market Trading …^[5]. Despite the absence of an official listing date, the airdrop is seen as a catalyst for broader adoption, with market speculation pointing to a late Q4 2025 mainnet launchMonad Teases Airdrop as Ethereum, Solana Rival Nears Long …^[11].

As the crypto community prepares for the final claim phase, participants are urged to verify their eligibility through the official portal and ensure wallet compatibility. The airdrop not only underscores Monad's ambition to challenge Ethereum and Solana but also highlights the growing trend of community-driven token distribution in the Layer-1 spaceMonad Airdrop 2025: Claim Details, Timing, and Eligibility …^[1].