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.
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 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:
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Monad Labs was founded in 2022 by a trio with deep expertise in high‑performance systems and blockchain technology:
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.
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.