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The network has moved from being a test environment to a live public chain, which means real value is now on the line. If you are reading this, you are likely looking to move your capital onto the chain to secure the network and earn yield. Whether you are here for the staking rewards or the DeFi opportunities, this guide covers exactly how to get started safely.
Key Takeaways
- Access is Open: You can now buy MON tokens on major centralized exchanges or bridge funds directly from Ethereum and other Layer-2s.
- Speed Changes Strategy: Monad is fast. Staking withdrawals take hours, not days.
- Flexibility is Key: You have two distinct ways to earn yield, locking tokens directly or using liquid protocols to keep your capital moving.
- Safety First: The early days of any mainnet are high-risk for scams. Verify every link and ignore unsolicited messages.
Understanding Monad and the Role of Staking
Monad is a high-speed, EVM-compatible Layer-1 blockchain built to process up to 10,000 transactions per second. It does this through parallel execution, processing multiple transactions at once rather than waiting for each to finish before starting the next. This speed matters for DeFi because it means lower fees and sub-second finality.
Staking is how the network stays secure. When you delegate your MON to a validator, you're helping them secure the network and vote on consensus. In return, you earn rewards. On Monad, because the network is so fast, the entire staking cycle moves faster too.
Pre-Staking Checklist
Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
- MON Tokens: You must have MON in your wallet. If you participated in the public sale, these are already claimed. If not, you can buy them on crypto exchanges like Coinbase or swap on MonadVision platform.
- A Compatible Wallet: All major EVM wallets are supported - MetaMask, Bitget and Phantom. No setup needed if you already have one.
- Minimum Stake: Monad has no minimum amount for delegation.
- Network Fees: Every transaction costs a small network fee, called a gas fee. On Monad, these are extremely cheap, but set aside just a small buffer.
Getting Your Monad Wallet Ready
If you already have a wallet, skip this section.
If you don't have a wallet yet, MetaMask is the standard choice. Here is a simple guide to set it up.
Go to the official website for Metamask and install the browser extension.
Now open the Metamask extension in your browser to prepare your wallet.
- You will see two options: "I have an existing wallet" and "Create a new wallet." Select "Create a new wallet".
- Choose Your Login Method: You will see a screen with two options - "Continue with Google" (or Apple) to link the wallet to your existing account for easier access, or continue with "Secret Recovery Phrase".
- Set Up Password: You will be required to set a strong password (at least 8 characters) to secure the wallet on your device.
Once your password is set and your wallet is generated, you will see a screen saying "Your wallet is ready!". Click the "Done" button to finish.
Monad Staking Strategy: Native Delegation vs. Liquid Staking
Staking allows you to earn yield while securing the blockchain. Neither is "better" - it depends on whether you want maximum safety or maximum activity.
Native Staking on Monad
Native staking is the "purest" form of participation. You delegate your tokens directly to a validator node. This method has the lowest smart contract risk because you are interacting directly with the protocol.
1. Go to the MonadVision, click "Connect Wallet" at the top of the platform and approve your wallet connection (Phantom, MetaMask, etc.)
2. Once your wallet is connected, your next step is finding a trustworthy validator to handle your stake. In the top navigation menu, select "Validators".
This opens the main staking dashboard, where you will see a list of all active node operators. It is worth taking a moment to understand what you are looking at before you commit your funds. The table gives you a clear snapshot of each validator's performance and reliability.
For your own returns, pay close attention to the Commission and APR columns. The commission is the "service fee" the validator keeps from your rewards to cover their hardware costs - the standard rate on Monad is typically 10%. The APR (Annual Percentage Rate) gives you an estimate of what you will earn, which currently sits between 13% and 15% depending on the node you choose.
3. Choosing the right validator is the most critical step in protecting your funds, as you want to balance high performance with verified security. When you scroll through the list, you will find our node listed as Coinage x DAIC.
What truly sets us apart, however, is our infrastructure. Unlike many validators that rely on generic, rented cloud space, we operate our own bare-metal servers physically located in Austria. This enterprise-grade setup allows us to maintain superior uptime and independence from centralized cloud outages. We also provide an extra layer of safety through our Insurance Fund, which protects our delegators against slashing penalties. To start earning with this level of security, simply locate the Coinage x DAIC row and click the purple "Stake" button on the far right.
4. In the shown window, simply type the amount of MON you wish to lock. You will see a summary of the validator’s details, including their commission rate and the expected APR, to ensure everything looks correct.
5. When you are ready, click the large "Stake" button at the bottom. Your wallet extension will pop up asking for a signature, confirm it, and the network will handle the rest.
Managing Your Rewards
After a few seconds, a "Transaction Success" screen will confirm that your tokens are now securing the network. From this moment on, your work is mostly done, but you will want to keep an eye on your position.
To do this, navigate to the "MySpace" tab in the top menu.
This personal dashboard displays your total staked balance and the real-time value of your portfolio. Crucially, native staking rewards on Monad do not auto-compound. You will see a "Claim" button next to your earnings, to maximize your returns, you should visit this page periodically to harvest these rewards manually. If you ever need to retrieve your funds, the "Unstake" button is located right next to it, which initiates the brief unbonding period before your tokens become liquid again.
Liquid Staking on Monad: Earn More While Staying Active in DeFi
If you want staking rewards but also plan to use your tokens across Monad's DeFi apps, liquid staking lets you do both. You deposit MON and get a liquid token in return - this token earns rewards while you can trade it, lend it, or use it as collateral. Four main protocols handle this on Monad.
Magma is a community-owned liquid staking protocol designed for fair token distribution and equitable rewards. You stake MON and receive gMON in return. gMON holders earn staking rewards plus extra income from MEV profits - no additional work required. You can use gMON as collateral across dApps within the Monad ecosystem to buy, sell, trade, provide liquidity, lend, and borrow.
aPriori takes a more active approach to maximizing your earnings. When you stake MON, you receive aprMON tokens. These represent your claim to staking rewards, and as rewards accumulate, each aprMON token grows in value - the number of tokens you hold stays the same. aprMON captures both staking rewards and MEV revenue, boosting your overall yield. Since your token count remains stable while its value grows, you get better composability with lending, trading, and other DeFi protocols across Monad. It's worth saying that aPriori is a self-custodial platform, so you'll always have total control of your funds.
Kintsu takes a different angle with sMONAD tokens. The focus here is letting your tokens work across multiple DeFi apps at once. You can stake with Kintsu and immediately use your sMONAD as collateral on lending platforms or swap it on DEXs all while earning rewards the whole time. Kintsu automatically delegates your pooled MON to participating validators selected through the Kintsu DAO. These validators earn yield through both Proof-of-Stake consensus and MEV fees, then return those rewards to the staking pool. The DAO controls how much MON goes to each validator, ensuring fair distribution and network security. The protocol automatically compounds your rewards over time, so your position grows steadily.
FastLane gives you the most control over how you stake. You deposit MON to mint shMON, then you can create different bonding positions, basically separate staking arrangements with different unlock times and reward structures. This means you could keep some of your MON accessible for quick exits, while locking other portions for longer to maximize returns.
FastLane also integrates MEV optimization and automation tools, so your shMON works across multiple reward channels.
Your liquid tokens work immediately across Monad's ecosystem. The main trade-off is trusting these protocols' code, whereas native staking is just you and the blockchain.
The Staking Lifecycle: Epochs, Rewards, and Unstaking
Monad operates on a significantly faster schedule than other EVM chains.
- Epochs: The network operates in epochs, which last approximately 5.5 hours (50,000 blocks). Staking actions (delegating/undelegating) occur at these epoch boundaries.
- Rewards: Rewards are generated every epoch. Important: If you are native staking, rewards do not auto-compound. You must manually claim them or use a dApp that offers compounding.
- Unstaking (Unbonding): When you decide to unstake, your tokens enter a "cooldown" period. On Monad, this lasts for just 1 Epoch (~5.5 to 6 hours). After this brief wait, you can withdraw your funds to your wallet.
A Note on Security
New networks attract bad actors. Before you interact with any contract or staking portal, verify the URL. Check the official X (Twitter) accounts of projects like Magma or Kintsu for the correct links.
Also, ensure you are buying the correct token. The real Monad token is MON. Any token named "MONAD" with a micro-price on a random exchange is a decoy.
The network is yours to use. Choose the staking method that suits your interests and time horizon.
The information provided by DAIC, including but not limited to research, analysis, data, or other content, is offered solely for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other type of advice. DAIC does not recommend the purchase, sale, or holding of any cryptocurrency or other investment.
