Top 7 Staking Protocols Launching on Monad

Common Traits Among the Already Launched Staking Projects

• Composability: All projects are designed to integrate seamlessly into DeFi, enabling users to leverage staked assets for lending, farming, and collateralization.
• Reward-Bearing Tokens: Moving away from rebased models, these protocols issue reward-bearing Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs/LRTs).
• DAO Governance: Most projects are either DAO-governed or planning to introduce governance tokens, often airdropped to early/testnet participants.
• Whitelisted Validators: Delegations are made to a curated set of high-performance, reliable validators.
• Monad-Native: Each project is being built specifically for Monad, leveraging its architecture and performance features.

1. Magma – Liquid Staking Protocol (Live on Testnet)

Magma is a DAO-owned liquid staking protocol that allows users to stake assets and receive gMON, a liquid staking token usable across DeFi.

Key Features:

• Delegated Proof-of-Stake: Initial delegation to a whitelist of node operators, with plans to transition to Distributed Validator Technology.
• gMON Utility: Enables participation in DeFi without sacrificing staking rewards.

2. Kintsu – Composable Liquid Staking Protocol (Live on Testnet)

Kintsu enhances DeFi composability with its LST, allowing users to stake and retain liquidity.

Key Features:

• Whitelisted Validators: Staked assets are secured by a vetted set of validators.
• UX Transparency: Provides  insights into staking performance and metrics as soon as you land in the homepage.

3. aPriori – MEV-Powered Liquid Staking (Live on Testnet)

aPriori integrates MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) into its staking mechanism, maximizing returns for users.

Key Features:

• MEV Rewards: Offers boosted staking yields through MEV strategies.
• Highest Adoption: Leading the market in TVL and unique addresses.

4. shMONAD – Super Holistic Liquid Staking Protocol (Live on Testnet)

Developed by FastLane Labs, shMONAD focuses on staking security, MEV optimization, and blockchain resilience.

Key Features:

• Productive MEV: FastLane’s node software enables new revenue streams for validators and apps.
• Protocol Stress Testing: Incentivizes testnet participants to explore blockchain performance limits via frontrunning transaction.
• Highest APY: Based on our research across all LSTs, shMONAD delivers the highest yield.

Upcoming Projects

Folks Finance – Omnichain Liquid Staking (Borrow/Lend Live – Staking Not Active Yet)

Folks Finance will offer composable DeFi utility with deep liquidity with their different LSTs. As of now you can get very high APR on your MON tokens from lending (300+% APY at the time of writing).

Key Features:

• Cross-Chain Liquidity: Assets can be deposited or borrowed across multiple chains seamlessly.

Stonad – Community-First Liquid Staking (Announced, Not Yet Launched)

Stonad's stMON aims to deliver a decentralized, community-owned staking solution for Monad.

Key Features:

• No VC Influence: 100% community-focused with no venture capital involvement.
• Governance-Backed LST: The LST doubles as a governance token, putting control in the hands of users.

Renzo Protocol – Restaking-Enhanced Liquidity (Not Yet Launched)

Renzo is rumored to bring restaking and support for ezETH and ezSOL into Monad’s staking ecosystem.

Key Features:

• Restaking: Auto-compounding and performance-optimized liquid restaking tokens (LRTs).
• Liquidity Depth: Aims to offer strong integration and DeFi presence from day one.

Conclusion

Monad's staking ecosystem is rapidly evolving, with protocols pushing the boundaries of composability, decentralization, and user rewards. These projects don’t just replicate what’s been done, they innovate within Monad’s high-performance framework. Whether it's MEV integration, DAO governance, or cross-chain liquidity, each protocol brings a distinct advantage to the table. As the network matures, these staking solutions are poised to become core pillars of Monad's DeFi landscape. Stay tuned.