The Monad Foundation has officially announced the long-awaited MON airdrop, confirming that tokens can now be claimed via its verified portal at claim.monad.xyz.
The airdrop will distribute MON tokens to 5,500 Monad community members and nearly 225,000 participants from the broader crypto ecosystem. The claim window remains open until November 3, 2025.
Community Divided as Market Bets on November Release
The foundation said the distribution aims to reward “people who eat, sleep, and breathe crypto,” making long-time blockchain users the first stakeholders ahead of Monad’s public mainnet launch.
The project emphasizes community participation, noting that members identified through the Monad Community Recognizer and Monad Cards initiatives played a key role in selection.
Qualified recipients span five categories: Monad Community, On-chain Users, Crypto Community, Crypto Contributors, and Monad Builders. Those meeting multiple criteria can claim combined allocations.
The claim portal uses Privy for authentication, allowing users to verify ownership via EVM or Solana wallets as well as Twitter, Discord, or email.
It cautions against imposter sites and warns that there is no advantage to claiming early. The foundation also detailed anti-sybil protections, using Trusta AI to detect bots and manual verification to ensure authentic accounts.
Market Skepticism Persists Despite Portal Launch
Traders remain divided on when full distribution will occur. According to Polymarket data, only 5 % expect it by October 31, while 93 % bet on a late-November drop and 98 % on December 31.
Source: PolyMarket
That caution echoes BeInCrypto reporting, which said enthusiasm remains high despite past delays. Some traders voiced frustration, alleging that many testnet users were not eligible for the airdrop.
The MON airdrop targets experienced Web3 users — from DeFi traders and NFT collectors to contributors like ZachXBT, SEAL 911 members, and Protocol Guild developers. The foundation clarified that Monad and Category Labs employees are excluded from eligibility.
Analysts say the event fits within a broader wave of community-driven token launches. Airdrops tied to mainnet releases are becoming major catalysts for user engagement across the crypto sector.
According to Dragonfly’s State of Airdrops Report 2025, restrictive U.S. policies have excluded millions of American users from claiming tokens, causing an estimated $1.8 billion to $2.6 billion in lost revenue between 2020 and 2024 and prompting many blockchain projects to move offshore for regulatory certainty.
While anticipation for Monad remains strong, the timing and execution of the MON airdrop will ultimately determine how much confidence users place in its upcoming mainnet debut.
