Monad Testnet Guide: Explore With Zerion Wallet

Monad is a new L1 blockchain network with high throughput, near-zero gas fees and full EVM compatibility. The highly anticipated Monad testnet launched in February, and it’s a great place to explore the emerging ecosystem. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started with the Monad testnet.

What Is Monad?

Monad is a high-performance EVM-compatible blockchain with optimistic parallel execution, achieving: 

• 10,000 transactions per second
• Near-zero gas fees (paid with MON tokens) 
• 0.5 second block time 
• 1-second finality 
• Low hardware requirements for max decentralization 

By maintaining EVM compatibility, Monad lets developers deploy Ethereum-based smart contracts and use EVM RPC infrastructure. 

As a new L1 with its own gas token (MON), Monad will likely do an airdrop when the mainnet launches, following the steps of Berachain, another new L1 chain. The best chance to qualify for MON airdrop is to use the Monad testnet.  

What Is the Monad Testnet?

The Monad testnet is a sandbox environment where developers and users can experiment with the network without paying money or risk losing it. 

On Monad testnet, you pay for gas with testnet MON, the native gas token. MON is used like ETH: for minting, depositing, as collateral for loans, and more. The main difference is that testnet MON has no monetary value — you cannot sell it or bridge to another network. 

How to Access the Monad Testnet

To access the testnet, you need a wallet like Zerion, which fully supports Monad testnet right away.

Step 1: Set Up a Wallet

• Install Zerion 
• Create a new address or import an existing wallet 

Step 2: Get Testnet Tokens

To get free testnet MON tokens:

• Visit the official Monad faucet 
• Solve captcha 
• Copy and paste your wallet address and request tokens 

Wait for the tokens to be credited to your wallet. In Zerion, they’ll automatically show up on Monad Testnet, no need to add them. 

Bonus: Zerion Wallet users with Level 6 already got 10 MON testnet tokens 

Don’t know what those levels are? They’re part of Zerion Rewards. 

Step 3: Connect to the Monad Testnet

Once your wallet is set up and funded with testnet MON tokens, you can connect to the testnet. 

Zerion Wallet will automatically connect to apps on Monad Testnet, so there is no need to manually add the network. 

Step 4: Explore the Testnet

Now that you're connected, you can start experimenting with the testnet. 

Make transactions across dapps on Monad testnet to maximize your chances for getting an airdrop: 

1. Get a free pack on Fantasy.top
2. Mint NFTs on Magic Eden, many of them are free 
3. Stake MON on aPriori, a liquid staking platform on Monad
4. Stake MON on Magma, a liquid staking platform with a points program 
5. Register domain on Nad Name Service 
6. Create coins on Nad.fun — and buy some coin
7. Deploy a contract on Owlto, a bridge — just click ‘deploy’ and select Monad
8. Earn Bytes on Curvance by completing tasks such as minting, lending, and borrowing 
9. Explore even more dapps from Monad ecosystem.

You can track all your Monad testnet transactions in Zerion. 

Nobody knows what airdrop criteria will be, but actively exploring and genuinely trying different apps is a strategy that has worked previously. 

What’s next

The Monad testnet is an excellent playground for devs and users alike. 

By setting up a Zerion wallet, getting test MON tokens, and experimenting with smart contracts and transactions, you can learn how Monad works and might even qualify for the airdrop when mainnet launches. Stay engaged with the Monad community to keep up with updates and contribute to the network’s development.