Top 5 Best and Worst Monad (MON) Price Predictions 2026

Monad is a high-performance Layer-1 blockchain with full EVM compatibility, officially launched on November 24, 2025. The project did not emerge in isolation: long before launch, it was actively discussed and compared with Solana, Aptos, and even Ethereum. The reason is straightforward. Monad promised what has long been considered the “holy grail” for developers — very high throughput without sacrificing EVM compatibility.

Source: GoMining.com

By the end of December 2025, the MON token was trading roughly in the $0.020–$0.030 range, with an initial offering price close to $0.025. The post-launch all-time high reached approximately $0.048. The market is still in the early phase of expectation building, while the project itself remains at an early stage of its lifecycle.

Why does 2026 matter so much? Because several critical factors converge in that year: the launch of on-chain governance, the start of active ecosystem grants, gradual token unlocks for investors and the team, and — most importantly — a real-world stress test of network usage beyond presentations and promises. In 2026, Monad either establishes itself as a full-fledged Layer-1 or remains a niche experiment.

The 5 Best Bullish Price Scenarios for MON in 2026

When discussing the “best-case” Monad price predictions, it is important to immediately discard clearly unrealistic numbers like $5 or $10 per token. Such figures often appear in search results but are not grounded in current market capitalization, supply structure, or the actual economics of the network. Below are scenarios that remain aggressive, yet still fall within realistic market logic.

Scenario 1: $0.20–$0.30 — The “Ethereum Killer” Case

This is the most optimistic, yet theoretically possible scenario. It appears in bullish analyses from Bitget and MEXC, where analysts emphasize Monad’s technical edge.

For MON to approach the $0.20–$0.30 range, several conditions must be met simultaneously. First, the network must prove its claimed performance in practice — around 10,000 transactions per second while maintaining EVM compatibility. Second, Monad would need to attract a meaningful volume of DeFi liquidity and applications, ideally not just forks, but products with real user activity. Third, the ecosystem must generate sustainable demand for gas and staking, rather than relying solely on speculative interest.

In this scenario, Monad begins to be viewed as a genuine alternative to Ethereum for certain developer segments, not merely as another “fast chain.”

Scenario 2: $0.13–$0.15 — Institutional Adoption

A more moderate, yet still very strong outcome. This range is referenced by CCN and Bitget in their extended forecasts. Here, the focus shifts from hype to systematic ecosystem development.

If Monad’s grants program functions effectively and partnerships with projects such as Polymarket or major DeFi protocols translate into real users, a price of $0.13–$0.15 becomes justifiable. This represents roughly a 5–6× increase from the ICO price, which is considered a solid result for a successful Layer-1 in its first full year of operation.

Scenario 3: $0.10 — Psychological Breakout

The $0.10 level is not just a number; it is a key psychological threshold. For the market, reaching this price suggests that the project has moved beyond the “experimental” phase and established itself as working infrastructure.

From a numerical perspective, this corresponds to approximately 4× the ICO price. Historically, many successful L1 launches have delivered similar performance within the first 12–18 months, provided they avoided critical issues. For Monad, this scenario reflects confident but not overheated success.

Scenario 4: $0.08–$0.12 — Steady Organic Growth

This scenario aligns closely with the average consensus, including projections from CoinDCX. It assumes that Monad grows without sharp spikes or deep drawdowns.

Source: GoMining.com

In this case, price appreciation is driven by gradually increasing network activity, the launch of new applications, and a broader crypto market recovery in 2025–2026. It is not a once-in-a-decade success story, but a respectable outcome for a newly launched blockchain.

Scenario 5: ~$0.07 — Conservative Bull Case

The most cautious bullish outlook is based primarily on technical analysis, assuming a firm break and consolidation above the $0.05 resistance zone.

Even this scenario implies that the project survives, finds its audience, and maintains prices above initial levels. For many investors, that alone would be considered an acceptable result.

Source: GoMining.com

The 5 Worst Bearish Price Scenarios for MON in 2026

Now let’s address what is often glossed over in hype-driven articles. Any new Layer-1 is not only about upside potential, but also about very concrete downside risks.

Scenario 1: $0.00–$0.01 — Effective Project Failure

This is the most negative, yet theoretically possible outcome. It is always included in automated worst-case models, such as those referenced by Coinbase.

This scenario assumes that the network encounters serious technical issues, loses developer trust, or fails to find real-world demand. In such a case, liquidity dries up and the token price gradually trends toward zero. While extreme, this outcome cannot be fully excluded for any early-stage blockchain.

Scenario 2: ~$0.020 — The “Real Bottom”

CCN considers this a bearish but not catastrophic scenario. The price falls below the ICO level of $0.025 under pressure from investor and team token unlocks.

This outcome becomes likely if demand for MON fails to keep pace with the growing circulating supply, while early participants choose to lock in profits or reduce exposure. The network continues to operate, but market sentiment remains weak.

Scenario 3: $0.025 — ICO-Level Stagnation

Markets can be especially unforgiving to new projects. In this case, the price simply “sticks” to the initial offering level.

This means expectations were not fulfilled, but full disappointment did not materialize either. For token holders, this is often the most psychologically difficult outcome: no growth, no collapse, and no clear directional signal.

Scenario 4: ~$0.028 — Narrow Range Trading

Here, the price remains close to current support levels identified by CoinDCX. Monad continues to exist, but fails to break resistance or attract fresh capital.

The network survives, development continues, yet the token remains trapped in a tight trading range with limited upside.

Scenario 5: $0.035 — Relative Underperformance

In this scenario, the project remains functional and the network operates normally. However, when compared to Ethereum, Solana, or other Layer-1s, Monad appears less attractive.

The price may rise modestly, but significantly underperforms alternative investments in terms of returns. For investors, the opportunity cost becomes the main issue rather than absolute losses.

Source: GoMining.com

What Experts and the Market Say About Monad

Despite being a relatively new Layer-1, Monad has already generated polarized expert opinions. This is neither a case of universal belief in “the next Ethereum,” nor empty hype without backing.

Arthur Hayes: Skepticism Toward New L1s Without Real Demand

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and one of the most prominent macro commentators in crypto, has categorized Monad among new Layer-1 projects that may face serious challenges without sustained institutional demand.

He repeatedly emphasizes that markets tend to consolidate around a small number of dominant networks, while most new chains risk losing a significant portion of their capitalization once the initial interest fades. This view is often cited as a reminder that high throughput alone does not guarantee token success.

CoinMarketCap: Mixed Market Expectations

In its AI-driven reviews and news updates, CoinMarketCap highlights conflicting sentiment around Monad. On one hand, the project attracts attention due to its architecture, high throughput, and EVM compatibility. On the other, the market remains cautious because of token distribution structure and upcoming unlocks.

In essence, this reflects the broader consensus: interest exists, but trust has not yet fully formed.

CoinGape: Post-Mainnet Interest

Analysts at CoinGape note increased attention toward Monad following the mainnet launch. Early waves of activity and trading volumes suggest the market treats the project seriously rather than as a short-term speculative play.

At the same time, they explicitly state that future price dynamics will depend on whether genuinely used applications emerge on the network.

CryptoNews: Focus on Tokenomics Risks

Several CryptoNews articles emphasize risks rather than technology. The authors point out that the large allocation held by investors and the team could create selling pressure in 2026.

This perspective does not negate Monad’s potential, but underscores that it is an asymmetric risk story, where fundamentals and holder behavior matter far more than marketing.

Source: GoMining.com

Summary of Expert Views

Overall, the picture is relatively mature and realistic. Skeptics warn about overheating and unlock risks, analysts see moderate upside if the ecosystem develops successfully, and the broader market remains cautious. Monad is not yet an “obvious winner,” but neither does it resemble an empty experiment. Its fate in 2026 will be determined by real network economics, not announcements.

Fundamental Analysis: What Will Drive MON in 2026?

If you strip away the market noise and all the “10x talk,” MON’s price in 2026 will be decided by a few fairly down-to-earth factors. The first one is tokenomics — as boring as it may sound compared to TPS and “Ethereum killer” headlines.

Tokenomics & Unlocks: The Core Risk Driver

By the end of 2025, around 50.6% of Monad’s total supply is locked — and that is both a positive and a negative. The upside is that the market was not flooded with tokens from day one. The downside is that the unlock schedule becomes a constant background pressure on price.

The most important part to understand is the investor share — roughly 19.7%. These tokens are not “dead supply.” Over time, they become liquid, and some holders will inevitably take profits or reduce risk. If, at that moment, the network does not have real demand, selling pressure could become very noticeable.

Ecosystem Growth: The Main Upside Lever

Monad is not just an unlock story. Nearly 38.5% of total issuance is reserved for ecosystem development, and this is where the project’s biggest opportunity sits.

If these tokens go into real grants, developer subsidies, and user incentives — rather than superficial marketing — they can act as genuine “fuel” for the network. That is how Solana, Avalanche, and other L1s historically scaled: not through promises, but through capital that made launching and operating applications economically attractive.

Real Applications = Real Demand for MON

Another key variable is who actually builds on Monad. In the first months after launch, DeFi projects started paying attention because they want EVM compatibility but are tired of Ethereum’s expensive gas and throughput limits.

If Monad ends up hosting not only forks, but real products — decentralized exchanges, derivatives, prediction markets, and critical infrastructure services — that creates organic demand for MON as a gas token and as a staking asset. Without that, MON remains mostly a speculative instrument.

Governance: A Trust Signal in Q1 2026

A separate point worth highlighting is the launch of on-chain governance, planned for Q1 2026. Some market participants treat governance as a formality, but for long-term investors it can be a meaningful signal.

Voting-based governance implies the network is no longer just “a team’s project” — it starts to function more like a protocol. That can reduce regulatory risk, increase trust, and make participation in the ecosystem more attractive, especially for larger players.

Putting It All Together

The honest version is simple: MON will not rise in 2026 because “the chain is fast.” It will rise if people are actually building on it, earning on it, and paying fees on it.

If the ecosystem takes off, grants are deployed intelligently, and the broader market remains in recovery mode, Monad has a real shot at becoming a full-fledged Layer-1. If not, unlocks combined with weak demand will quickly remind everyone that fundamentals matter more than presentations.

Source: GoMining.com

Summary

In 2026, Monad offers a highly asymmetric risk/reward setup. In the best-case scenario, the token could deliver 5–10× growth from the ICO price if the ecosystem develops successfully. In the worst case, it could pull back by 30% or more, potentially dropping to levels below the initial offering.

This is not a “safe bet,” but it is not empty hype either. Monad is a typical representative of the new generation of Layer-1 blockchains, where success is determined not by promises, but by real usage.

If you want to go deeper into crypto markets, cycles, on-chain data, and real valuation models, subscribe to Crypto Academy and get access to a crypto and Bitcoin course. While it is still free, the market is still waiting for that “perfect entry point.”

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FAQ

What was the Monad (MON) ICO price?

Around $0.025, according to Coinbase data and public sources.

Why are MON price predictions so different?

The project launched only in November 2025 and is still in the price discovery phase. The market has not yet formed a clear understanding of its real value.

Can Monad reach $1 in 2026?

Most likely, no. That would require an extremely sharp increase in market capitalization. The $0.20–$0.30 range looks like a more realistic bullish ceiling.

What happens to MON’s price when investor tokens unlock?

There is a high probability of price pressure due to potential selling from part of the investor allocation (about 19.7% of supply).

Is Monad better than Solana?

These are different approaches. Monad focuses on EVM compatibility and scaling the Ethereum ecosystem, while Solana relies on its own architecture optimized for maximum speed. The better choice depends on the use case, not just TPS.

Does Monad have real projects, or is everything still just promises?

As of late 2025, Monad’s ecosystem is in an early phase, but it is already forming: DeFi protocols, infrastructure services, wallets, and first experimental applications are emerging. The key question for 2026 is whether this turns into real usage and liquidity, rather than remaining a list of partnerships on a website.

What does MON’s short-term price depend on the most?

Primarily on the balance between token unlocks and real demand. If new users and applications arrive faster than circulating supply grows, price can find support. If unlocks outpace activity growth, downside pressure increases.

Why is MON often compared specifically with Solana and Aptos?

Because all three projects aim to solve the same problem: a scalable Layer-1 with high throughput. The difference is in approach: Solana uses its own architecture, Aptos is built around Move, and Monad emphasizes EVM compatibility. For developers, this is a fundamental choice, not just a speed comparison.

How risky are team and investor token unlocks?

Unlocks themselves are a normal part of any blockchain project’s lifecycle. The risk appears when unlocks happen alongside weak network activity. If the ecosystem is growing, markets usually absorb the added supply. If not, unlocks can amplify a price decline.

Does Monad have a chance to become a long-term project rather than a temporary hype cycle?

The chance is there, but it is not guaranteed. Everything depends on whether Monad becomes a place where it is genuinely convenient and profitable to launch applications. Technology creates the potential, but only usage creates long-term value.