Monad: High Performance EVM Layer 1 Blockchain

If you're seeking the best high performance EVM layer 1 blockchain for scalable DeFi, gaming, or dApps, Monad stands out with its 10,000 TPS target, parallel execution, and full Ethereum compatibility. This comparison pits Monad against top layer 1 alternatives like Solana, Avalanche, BNB Chain, and others, evaluating throughput, fees, EVM support, and real world viability to help you pick the optimal chain.

Monad delivers 10,000 transactions per second through parallel execution on a fully EVM compatible layer 1, with sub second finality via MonadBFT consensus and block times around 0.4-1 seconds. Launched on mainnet in November 2025, it processed 3.7 million transactions on day one, hitting 350 TPS during memecoin spikes, while DeFi TVL exceeded $245 million in two weeks. Its $MON token powers fees, staking, and governance across a 100 billion supply, with over half locked for a year.

Throughput: 10,000 TPS target with optimistic parallelization that re executes conflicting transactions without high end hardware needs-nodes run on 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD. Fees: Near zero at under $0.001 per transaction due to pipelined block production. EVM Fit: Bytecode and RPC compatible, so Solidity contracts deploy unchanged.

• Handles DeFi trades and liquidations at centralized exchange speeds without gas spikes.
• Validator specs match consumer hardware, boosting decentralization over Solana's demands.
• MEV resistance and dynamic rotation minimize front running risks.
• Early mainnet traction shows real scalability, not just testnet promises.
• Limited ecosystem maturity compared to Ethereum, though integrations grow fast.

Bridge assets via official tools before trading; stake $MON early for yields around 5-10% APY, but watch for volatility post TGE.

Solana: Ultra Fast Non EVM Powerhouse

Solana processes 65,000 TPS using Sealevel parallel execution, with 400ms finality ideal for high frequency apps. Transaction fees stay at $0.00025 even under load, making it viable for 100,000 daily trades at just $750 monthly user cost-versus Ethereum's $300K-$1.5M. Daily active users and volume lead non EVM chains, powering DEXs and memecoins.

• Proven at massive scale with minimal failed transactions during peaks.
• Costs scale linearly, unbeatable for volume heavy protocols.
• Native MEV tools reduce exploiter advantages.
• Requires porting code from Solidity to Rust, slowing EVM teams.
• Occasional outages from spam, though hardware upgrades help.
• No EVM compatibility limits Ethereum dApp migration.

For HFT bots, prioritize Solana RPCs with low latency endpoints; test under simulated 10,000 TPS loads to confirm reliability.

Avalanche: Subnet Flexibility for EVM Apps

Avalanche hits 4,500 TPS across customizable subnets, all EVM compatible for easy Ethereum deployments. Simple transfers cost $0.10-$0.50, with token swaps at $0.30-$1.50, scaling to $100-$500 daily for 1,000 transactions. Its PoS model supports enterprise use via permissioned chains.

Subnets isolate traffic for gaming or RWA tokenization, keeping mainnet fees low. Throughput shines in horizontal scaling, with finality under 2 seconds.

• Custom blockchains fit niche needs without mainnet congestion.
• Strong institutional partnerships for compliance heavy projects.
• EVM tooling works out of the box.
• Higher fees than Solana for high volume DeFi.
• Liquidity fragments across subnets.

Launch a subnet for private testing before public rollout; monitor C chain gas during network wide events.

BNB Chain: Volume Leader in Low Cost EVM

Average Fees: $0.05-$0.25 for transfers, $0.15-$0.75 swaps-dropping with volume tiers over $100K monthly. BNB Chain leads EVM compatible throughput with fast confirmations and billions in daily volume. It processes complex DeFi at $0.50-$4 per 1,000 daily transactions.

Built on Cosmos SDK, it offers EVM parity while handling massive TVL in DEXs and lending.

• Lowest fees among mature EVM chains for mid volume apps.
• Extensive DeFi ecosystem with deep liquidity.
• Centralization concerns from Binance ties ease with community governance.
• Less decentralized than Ethereum PoS.

Enable BEP-20 token burns for fee discounts; audit contracts twice given past exploits.

Ethereum: The Secure Foundation Layer

Ethereum mainnet caps at 15-30 TPS with 12+ minute finality, but fees range $0.30-$15 for transfers and $50-$500 for DeFi-totaling $3,000-$15,000 daily for 1,000 transactions. PoS secures $318 billion market cap and thousands of dApps. L2s like Base cut costs to $0.05-$0.30.

• Unmatched security and audit ecosystem.
• Deepest liquidity for institutional trades.
• Fees spike during congestion, killing UX.
• No parallel execution limits throughput.
• Best for high value, low volume interactions.

Use L2s for production DeFi; reserve L1 for treasuries or oracles needing max security.

Near Protocol: Sharded Scaling for Developers

Near targets 12,000 TPS via thresholded PoS sharding, with average fees around $0.01 per transaction. It supports Web3 apps through nightly shards, keeping costs under $100 daily for 1,000 transfers. EVM compatibility layers enable Solidity use.

Focuses on developer tools like account abstraction for smoother onboarding.

• Sharding delivers linear scalability without fragmentation.
• Low hardware needs for validators.
• Growing AI and gaming ecosystems.
• Smaller DeFi liquidity than leaders.
• Shards can complicate cross chain flows.

Migrate via Rainbow Bridge for Ethereum assets; shard your dApp early for optimal performance.

Sui: Object Centric Parallel Execution

How fast is Sui? Up to thousands TPS with Block STM parallel processing on Move language, fees at $0.001 flat. Gaming and NFTs thrive on sub second finality. Non EVM, but bridges ease Ethereum inflows.

• Narrow object model prevents most conflicts.
• Excellent for high interaction apps like games.
• Move safety reduces exploits.
• Learning curve for Solidity devs.
• Emerging ecosystem lags Monad's EVM pull.

Prototype in Move devnet; budget for bridge fees on mainnet launches.

Aptos: Move Language Speed Demon

Aptos pushes 160,000 theoretical TPS with 500ms finality and $0.001 fees, using Block STM for parallelism. Suited for DeFi with growing HFT viability. Non EVM requires code rewrites.

Throughput suits 1,000 daily tx at pennies total.

• Top tier speed for non EVM.
• Strong MEV protections emerging.
• Validator growth boosts decentralization.
• No native EVM hurts Ethereum migrations.
• Fees rise slightly under extreme load.

Test HFT strategies on testnet; integrate with Aptos RPC for live monitoring.

Shardeum: EVM Sharding for Infinite Scale

Shardeum uses dynamic state sharding for linear EVM scaling, sub-$0.01 fees across shards. Targets unlimited TPS as nodes grow. Early stage but fully Solidity compatible.

• Shards eliminate bottlenecks without liquidity splits.
• Ultra low costs for mass adoption.
• PoS encourages broad participation.
• Mainnet youth means unproven at scale.
• Fewer apps than established chains.

Join testnets for early airdrops; deploy across shards for redundancy.

VeChainThor: Enterprise Grade PoA Efficiency

VeChain reaches 10,000 TPS on PoA with fees $0.0001-$0.01, perfect for supply chain. EVM compatible for dApps. 9.49 million daily tx volume proves reliability.

Focuses on real world assets over pure DeFi.

• Stable performance for business use.
• Low fees at high volumes.
• PoA trades some decentralization for speed.
• Limited speculative DeFi ecosystem.

Tokenize assets via VeBetterDAO; verify dual token model for fees.

Taraxa: BlockDAG for Micro Transactions

Taraxa EVM chain averages $0.005 tx fees with t Graph consensus for parallel DAG blocks. Handles IoT scale micro payments. TPS scales with activity.

Suits event logging and low value transfers.

• DAG avoids orphan blocks.
• Dirt cheap for billions of tx.
• Niche beyond data apps.
• Smaller community.

Run lightweight nodes for data feeds; batch micro tx for efficiency.

dYdX Chain: Trading Optimized PoS

dYdX v4 hits 2,000 TPS PoS with $0.02 per trade, tailored for perps. Cosmos based but EVM bridges available. High liquidity for derivatives.

• Optimized orderbook engine.
• Low latency for traders.
• DeFi specific, less general.
• Competition from general L1s.

Margin trade with leverage caps; monitor funding rates daily.

Understanding Parallel Execution in Layer 1 Blockchains

Parallel execution processes multiple transactions simultaneously, unlike Ethereum's sequential model that bottlenecks at 15 TPS. Monad and Solana detect conflicts optimistically, re executing only when needed, hitting 10,000+ TPS without custom languages.

• MonadBFT pipelines consensus for 0.8s finality on EVM.
• Sealevel on Solana uses Rust for 65,000 TPS peaks.
• Block STM in Aptos/Sui suits object models best.

Choose based on language: EVM for Monad/BNB, Move for Sui/Aptos. Test conflict rates in your dApp-high interaction DeFi favors optimistic schemes.

Layer 1 Fees and Throughput: Real World Benchmarks

Fees dictate viability: Solana's $0.00025 enables 99%+ savings over Ethereum's $5-$50 HFT tx. Monad projects similar lows with EVM ease. At 10,000 daily tx, alternatives cost $75-$3,000 monthly versus Ethereum's $90K-$450K.

• Volume tipping point: Under 100 tx/day, ecosystem trumps cost.
• 1,000+ tx favors L1s like Monad for EVM scale.
• Infrastructure adds $800-$5,000 monthly, lowest on Solana.

Track via L2Fees.info equivalents; subsidize early users but plan for self sustaining models.

How to Choose and Deploy on the Best EVM Layer 1

1. Assess your TPS needs: Under 100? Ethereum L1. 1,000+? Test Monad or Solana devnets for parallel fit.
2. Calculate costs: Simulate 1,000 daily tx-pick chains under $100 monthly user spend.
3. Check EVM compatibility: Deploy Solidity unchanged on Monad, BNB, Avalanche first.
4. Bridge assets securely: Use official portals, start with $1K test transfers.
5. Stake for yields: Lock $MON or AVAX early, target 5-15% APY with slashing risks.
6. Monitor mainnet metrics: Use Chainspect for live TPS, avoid unproven claims.
7. Build hybrid: Core logic on Monad, oracles from Ethereum for security.
8. Audit before launch: Budget $30K-$150K based on complexity.
9. Scale with volume tiers: Negotiate RPC discounts over 100K tx/month.
10. Optimize gas: Batch tx, use JIT compilation on Monad for 2x speed.