【Monad】An EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain achieving approximately 10,000 TPS and sub-second finality through proprietary optimizations like parallel execution and asynchronous processing / @monad

Just before the mainnet launch

Good morning.
I’m Mitsui, a web3 researcher.

Today I researched “Monad”.

What is a monad?
Transition and Outlook
Ecosystem
How far will high-speed L1 spread?

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TLDR

• Monad is an emerging EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain.It adopts the same Proof-of-Stake (PoS) mechanism as Ethereum, while achieving high performance through proprietary optimizations such as parallel execution and asynchronous processing—enabling approximately 10,000 TPS and finality in under one second.

• The core of the technology lies in “Optimistic Parallel Execution” and “Pipelined Execution,” which redesign the EVM’s internal architecture to enable parallel processing and pipelined execution, eliminating the sequential execution bottleneck inherent in traditional EVMs.

• With a robust development team and large-scale funding (led by Paradigm at $225 million), preparations are underway for the 2025 mainnet launch and airdrop.

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What is a Monad?

Monad is an emerging Layer 1 blockchain with EVM compatibility.

It adopts the same Proof-of-Stake (PoS) mechanism as Ethereum, yet is designed to achieve 10,000 TPS processing performance, a block time of approximately 0.4 seconds, and near-instant finality within 0.8 to 1 second through proprietary optimizations. This represents over 1,000 times faster processing than Ethereum (approximately 10-15 TPS) and aims for extremely low costs, with gas fees under 1 cent per transaction (effectively close to zero).

Additionally, it is designed to enable full node operation even on low-spec hardware comparable to a standard PC, focusing on lowering the barrier to node participation and ensuring high decentralization.

Now, let me briefly explain the technology behind this acceleration.

◼️Technical Composition

Monad’s high performance is largely due to the following four technologies:

• Optimistic Parallel Execution：multiple transactionsSimultaneous provisional executionThen, check consistency later. Since it’s a method that re-executes if there are problems,Fully utilize the CPU coresIt’s fast and efficient.

• Pipelined Execution：Run “block ordering (consensus)” and “smart contract execution” simultaneously on separate threads. This allows the next process to be brought forward during block creation.

• High-Speed DB (MonadDB)：Custom-built dedicated database to store transaction states. More efficient than conventional blockchains.Fast and lightweight disk read/writeTherefore, the overall processing runs smoothly.

• High-Speed Consensus (MonadBFT):Block finalityJust two stepsBFT-type algorithm that can be completed in one block per block.Generated in approximately 0.4 seconds; finalized within 1 secondTherefore, the transaction is confirmed immediately.

I’ll explain in a bit more detail.

First and foremost: What does blockchain decide, and how?

Broadly speaking, blockchain is a system that synchronizes the following across the entire network to ensure they remain consistent: (1) transaction order, (2) transaction execution, (3) recording of execution results (state), and (4) immutability (finality). A typical transaction flow looks like this:

User creates a transaction (Tx) → it stays in the node’s mempool
  ↓
The leader (proposer) collects transactions and proposes a block
  ↓
Consensus voting determines the finalized order of blocks
  ↓
Each node executes smart contracts (e.g., on the EVM) in that order
  ↓
Account balances and contract states are updated and stored
  ↓
Once certain conditions are met, the block achieves finality and can no longer be reversed

Reviewing the terminology beforehand makes it easier to read.

• Transaction (Tx)：Instructions for sending funds or calling contracts.

• consensus: BlockOrderとlegitimacyA procedure for reaching consensus on a network.

• EVM：Ethereum-compatible virtual machine. Executes logic written in Solidity and other languages.

• State：Balance, storage within contracts, etc.

• Finality: that blockThere’s no going backGuarantee of the matter.

• BFT：A consensus mechanism that tolerates up to one-third of malicious nodes (Byzantine fault tolerance).

• PoS：A mechanism that grants validation rights based on the amount of tokens staked (as collateral).

Monad’s “speed” stems from its nested optimization of this sequence across four layers: consensus, execution, database, and asynchronous pipeline.

1. Consensus Layer:Monad BFT”

The first stage of blockchain is “determining the order of transactions.” Since nodes worldwide operate simultaneously, it is necessary to synchronize who processed which transaction and when. Consensus algorithms are responsible for achieving this agreement.