Monad’s testnet officially launched on February 19, 2025, sparking huge excitement in the crypto community. Users can now explore dApps, get hands-on with the ecosystem, and even increase their chances of future airdrops. Lately, Monad has been buzzing with new projects, active users, and exciting developments, making it an ecosystem worth watching!
About Monad Ecosystem
The Monad ecosystem is a rapidly evolving layer-1 blockchain designed to enhance scalability and performance while maintaining compatibility with the EVM. Until now, Monad has garnered significant attention for its ability to process up to 10,000 TPS through parallel execution and a custom consensus mechanism, making it a high-performance alternative for decentralized applications (dApps). Monad aims to empower developers with robust tools and a scalable infrastructure, fostering innovation in DeFi, NFTs, and beyond.
Read more: What is Monad?
Top 10 Monad’s hot picks to watch this week
Recently, news about multiple projects launching testnets and airdrops on the Monad ecosystem has been gaining significant attention, bringing increased interest and engagement to the network. Engaging with a variety of projects will help the Monad ecosystem grow and evolve, making it more comprehensive and dynamic.
At the same time, staying informed will give users a better chance of receiving future airdrops, as active participation and awareness often play a key role in eligibility. Below are top 10 hot picks from the Monad ecosystem; let’s stay informed to get the best opportunities.
Nitro Finance
Nitro Finance is a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform on the Monad Testnet, merging the strengths of a decentralized exchange (DEX) and a money market to redefine DeFi interactions. It enables users to swap, lend, and borrow assets from a single pool, offering a seamless pairwise interaction experience. By focusing on efficiency and innovation, Nitro Finance aims to enhance yield opportunities for users while maintaining security and decentralization.

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FastLane Labs
FastLane Labs is a pioneering MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) infrastructure and ecosystem development company focused on improving security and user experience on the Monad blockchain. It offers a hybrid MEV protocol to optimize transaction execution, automation, and staking, featuring tools like shMONAD (a liquid staking token), Task Manager for smart contract automation, and Monad Atlas for MEV auctions. FastLane Labs aims to enhance transaction predictability and usability for developers and users. On March 5, 2025, FastLane Labs raised $6 million in a strategic funding round led by Figment Capital and DBA, focusing on developing liquid staking solutions for Monad.

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Monadverse
Monadverse is a community-driven NFT platform on the Monad Testnet, specializing in the creation and trading of unique digital assets. It offers limited-edition NFT minting opportunities, such as the MonadVerse Genesis collection, with a total supply capped at 300,000 NFTs and a restriction of one NFT per wallet. Monadverse leverages AI generative art and a user-friendly interface to attract NFT enthusiasts, fostering creativity and ownership verification. Monadverse is a cornerstone of Monad’s NFT ecosystem, with its Genesis minting event ongoing.

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Lerv Lab
Levr Lab is a decentralized platform on the Monad Testnet, focusing on innovative betting and gaming solutions. Operating as a hub for leveraged betting, Levr Lab integrates blockchain technology to ensure transparency, fairness, and security in its ecosystem, catering to users interested in high-stakes, decentralized gaming experiences.

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Zaros
Zaros is a cutting-edge perpetual decentralized exchange (DEX) on the Monad Testnet, powered by boosted re-staking vaults that enhance yields for Liquid Staking Tokens (LST) and Liquid Restaking Tokens (LRT). It aims to revolutionize DeFi by offering advanced trading features and high-yield opportunities, backed by a $1.8 million funding round. Zaros focuses on creating a robust trading platform for perpetual futures with a user-friendly experience.

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Kintsu
Kintsu is a composable liquid staking protocol that enhances Monad’s economy by enabling users to stake while staying active on-chain. It is designed to simplify and enhance the staking experience for users. Kintsu also provides effortless staking solutions, allowing users to stake their assets securely while earning rewards, contributing to the network’s decentralization and security. Kintsu aims to make staking accessible and efficient for all participants in the Monad ecosystem.

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DRKVRS
DRKVRS is a free-to-play third-person action RPG multiplayer shooter on the Monad Testnet, set in the dark universe of Leviathan. It blends immersive storytelling, strategic combat, and blockchain technology, using $SIN tokens for NFT minting, staking, and governance. With four unique factions—Hedonists, Barbarians, Technognostics, and Nomads—DRKVRS offers diverse gameplay styles.

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BlockNads
BlockNads is an innovative NFT project on the Monad Testnet, dedicated to pushing the boundaries of digital collectibles with a focus on exclusivity, exploration, and defiance. It offers users the chance to mint unique NFTs, such as the BlockNad, through a whitelist system via the BlockPermit, fostering a tight-knit community of creators and collectors. BlockNads aims to redefine NFT experiences by encouraging creativity and engagement within the Monad ecosystem.

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aPriori
aPriori is a liquid staking and MEV infrastructure platform on the Monad Testnet, designed to optimize yields and enhance DeFi efficiency. Backed by $10M in funding, including an $8M seed round led by Pantera Capital with Binance Labs, Consensys, OKX Ventures, etc. aPriori enables users to stake $MON, earn rewards, and receive liquid staking tokens for use across DeFi applications.

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Dusted
Dusted is a Web3 social app on the Monad Testnet, rewarding user engagement through a points-based system. It encourages community interaction by allowing users to earn Dusted points, connect in token-specific chat rooms, and win prizes from other Monad projects, creating a gamified social experience.

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