The Most Performant EVM-Compatible Layer 1 Blockchain

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The future of blockchain has arrived — faster, smarter, and fully compatible with the Ethereum ecosystem. Welcome to Monad, a groundbreaking Layer 1 blockchain engineered for extreme performance without compromising decentralization or developer experience.

With the long-awaited Monad testnet now live, developers and innovators have the opportunity to explore a new era of scalability, speed, and seamless integration. Whether you're building decentralized applications, designing next-gen protocols, or researching scalable consensus mechanisms, Monad offers the infrastructure to turn vision into reality.

👉 Discover how high-performance blockchain can transform your project

Unleashing Speed Without Sacrifice

Monad redefines what’s possible in blockchain technology by delivering 10,000 transactions per second (TPS), 1-second block times, and near-zero gas fees — all while maintaining full compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).

This combination of speed, efficiency, and compatibility makes Monad the most performant EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain available today.

Core Features at a Glance

These aren't theoretical benchmarks — they’re engineered realities that empower developers to build applications once thought impossible on blockchain.

The L1 Blockchain Built for Limitless Potential

Unlike traditional blockchains that force trade-offs between speed, security, and decentralization, Monad is designed to maximize all three.

Full EVM Compatibility

Monad preserves full bytecode-level compatibility with the EVM. This means every tool, wallet, library, and smart contract built for Ethereum works seamlessly on Monad — no forks, no rewrites.

Developers can migrate projects from Ethereum or other EVM chains instantly, gaining access to superior performance while leveraging familiar tooling like Hardhat, Remix, and MetaMask.

Extreme Scalability Meets Real-World Utility

High throughput isn’t just about numbers — it’s about enabling real use cases:

With 10,000 TPS and single-slot finality, Monad eliminates bottlenecks that plague current networks.

Scalable Decentralization Through Innovation

One of the biggest challenges in blockchain is maintaining decentralization at scale. Most high-performance chains rely on powerful validator nodes, centralizing control.

Monad solves this with MonadDB, a custom-built database that stores blockchain state efficiently using SSDs instead of requiring massive RAM. This dramatically lowers the barrier to node operation, allowing everyday users to participate in network validation.

👉 See how low-cost node operation enables true decentralization

Reinventing Layer 1 Architecture

Monad isn’t an incremental upgrade — it’s a ground-up redesign of both consensus and execution layers, optimized for performance while preserving Ethereum compatibility.

Optimistic Parallel Execution

Traditional blockchains execute transactions sequentially, creating a bottleneck. Monad uses optimistic parallel execution, processing multiple transactions simultaneously before prior ones finalize.

Results are validated against the current state and committed in original order — ensuring correctness without sacrificing speed. This approach unlocks unprecedented throughput while maintaining data integrity.

Asynchronous Execution Model

By decoupling execution from consensus, Monad allows transaction processing to run independently of block proposal timing. This architectural shift enables continuous throughput even during network congestion.

It also paves the way for horizontal scaling in future upgrades, positioning Monad as a long-term solution for mass adoption.

Single-Slot Finality with High-Performance Consensus

Monad employs a high-efficiency Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism that achieves finality in one block — just one second. This means users get instant confidence in transaction irreversibility, critical for DeFi, gaming, and real-time applications.

Compared to multi-block confirmation models, this reduces latency and improves user experience across the board.

Redesigning the Database: MonadDB

At the heart of Monad’s performance is MonadDB, the world’s first database purpose-built for the EVM.

Why Standard Databases Fall Short

Most blockchains use off-the-shelf databases like LevelDB or RocksDB. These were not designed for the unique demands of blockchain state storage — particularly the need to store data in a Merkle Patricia Trie (MPT) structure for cryptographic verification.

Using general-purpose databases leads to inefficiencies:

How MonadDB Solves It

MonadDB is optimized specifically for MPT operations. It leverages advanced Linux kernel features to enable parallel state access, reducing database latency during transaction execution.

Key advantages:

This innovation allows consumer hardware to run full nodes effectively — a major step toward scalable decentralization.

Empowering Builders: The Monad Ecosystem

Monad Labs is committed to fostering a vibrant ecosystem through programs that support developers, startups, and researchers shaping the future of web3.

Mach: The Monad Accelerator

Mach is a dedicated accelerator program helping early-stage teams bring their blockchain ideas to life. Participants receive:

This end-to-end support system accelerates development cycles and increases chances of success in a competitive landscape.

Monad Madness: Global Pitch Competition

Monad Madness is a high-stakes global pitch competition offering:

Open to founders building innovative solutions on Monad, this event identifies and funds the next generation of web3 leaders. With both in-person and online participation options, it welcomes talent from around the world.

👉 Learn how you can compete and secure funding for your project

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Monad truly 100% EVM-compatible without code changes?
Yes. Monad is bytecode-compatible with the EVM. Any smart contract that runs on Ethereum will work on Monad without modification. Simply redeploy your existing contracts and enjoy drastically lower fees and higher throughput.

How is MonadDB different from other blockchain databases?
MonadDB is purpose-built for EVM state storage using Merkle Patricia Tries. Unlike generic databases, it supports parallel state access and runs efficiently on SSDs, reducing hardware requirements and improving performance.

In what languages is the Monad client written?
The consensus client is built in Rust for memory safety and low-level optimization. The execution client uses C/C++, proven languages for system-level performance-critical software.

Why build Monad as a Layer 1 instead of a Layer 2?
While L2s compress data on Ethereum, they inherit its limitations. Monad is a scalable base layer for EVM-native applications — offering real-time censorship resistance, full composability, and independence from base-layer congestion.

Can I run a node with consumer hardware?
Absolutely. Thanks to MonadDB’s SSD-first design, nodes can operate efficiently on consumer-grade machines. This lowers entry barriers and strengthens network decentralization.

What tools can I use to develop on Monad?
All standard Ethereum development tools work seamlessly: Hardhat, Truffle, Remix, Foundry, MetaMask, Ethers.js, and more. No special tooling required.

Build on the Fastest EVM-Compatible Layer 1

The time to build is now. Monad provides the speed, scalability, and compatibility needed to push the boundaries of what’s possible in decentralized technology.

Whether you're launching a DeFi protocol, creating an NFT marketplace, or experimenting with new consensus models, Monad gives you the foundation to innovate without limits.

Join a growing community of builders who are redefining the future of blockchain — one high-performance transaction at a time.