Why Monad’s New Exec Hires May Spark Institutional Crypto Gains – L1 Risk

• You could capture outsized returns if Monad’s institutional push succeeds.
• Three senior hires bring deep banking and crypto‑infrastructure expertise.
• Monad’s 10,000 TPS claim targets high‑frequency trading and payments.
• Recent L1 tokens have slumped 90%+, raising questions about sustainability.
• Understanding the competitive landscape is key to positioning MON in your portfolio.

You’re missing the next institutional crypto wave if you overlook Monad’s fresh leadership team.

Why Monad’s Executive Additions Matter for Institutional Adoption

The Monad Foundation just hired three veterans from Optimism, FalconX and BVNK. Urvit Goel, previously VP of go‑to‑market at Optimism, will steer capital‑markets strategy. Joanita Titan, who led custody and staking at FalconX, becomes head of institutional growth. Sagar Sarbhai, a former Asia‑Pacific head at BVNK, now leads institutional outreach across Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and South Korea.

Each executive carries résumés that blend Wall Street (JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank) with crypto‑infrastructure firms (Anchorage Digital, Fireblocks, Amazon). Their combined networks open doors to banks, hedge funds and sovereign wealth funds that have so far approached crypto cautiously. For Monad, that means faster brand credibility, smoother regulatory navigation, and a clearer path to large‑scale capital inflows.

Sector Trends: Institutional Crypto Infrastructure Gains Momentum

Since 2021, institutional interest in digital assets has moved from speculative exposure to core‑balance allocation. Custody solutions, staking services, and on‑ramp/off‑ramp providers have multiplied, driven by tighter compliance frameworks and higher demand for yield‑generating products. Monad’s focus on “high‑frequency trading and payments” aligns with a growing segment of banks testing crypto‑settlement for cross‑border payments where speed and finality are paramount.

The market now tracks more than $450 million in stablecoin market capitalization on Monad and over $200 million in total value locked (TVL) across its DeFi protocols. Stablecoin market cap reflects the aggregate dollar value of stablecoins issued on the chain, while TVL measures the dollar amount locked in smart contracts, a proxy for ecosystem health.

Competitor Landscape: How Avax, Near, and New L1s Stack Up

Monad is not alone chasing institutional traction. Avalanche (AVAX) touts sub‑second finality and has attracted several DeFi projects, yet its token has fallen roughly 70% from its peak. Near (NEAR) promotes developer friendliness but sees similar price pressure. New entrants like ZetaChain and Berachain entered late 2024 and early 2025 with ambitious cross‑chain visions; both have experienced 95%‑plus token declines.

What differentiates Monad is its explicit partnership with Coinbase for the token sale and a funding round of $225 million led by Paradigm. That capital backing suggests confidence in the technical roadmap, whereas many peers rely on community‑driven financing alone.

Historical Lens: Past L1 Launches and Investor Outcomes

History teaches that a wave of L1 launches in 2021‑2023 produced spectacular short‑term rallies followed by severe corrections. Projects that survived—Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin, Zcash—offered either a first‑mover advantage or a compelling, differentiated technology stack. Those that failed often lacked robust developer ecosystems or institutional relevance.

Monad’s timing is noteworthy. The last wave of major L1s cooled in 2023, leaving a gap for a network that can claim both EVM compatibility (allowing Ethereum developers to port dApps easily) and ultra‑high throughput. If Monad can deliver on its 10,000 transactions per second (TPS) promise with sub‑second finality, it may avoid the “flash‑crash” fate of many recent tokens.

Technical Edge: Monad’s 10,000 TPS Claim Explained

Processing 10,000 TPS means the network can settle ten thousand transactions every second—a figure comparable to traditional payment rails like Visa. Sub‑second finality ensures that once a transaction is confirmed, it cannot be reversed, a critical requirement for high‑frequency trading where latency directly impacts profitability.

The architecture remains compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), allowing developers to reuse Solidity code without rewriting contracts. This reduces onboarding friction for institutions that already have Ethereum‑based risk models and compliance tools.

Investor Playbook: Bull vs Bear Cases for MON Token

Bull Case: Institutional pipelines open, leading to multi‑hundred‑million inflows into Monad’s DeFi protocols. TVL climbs past $1 billion, driving token utility and price appreciation. The network’s high TPS and EVM compatibility attract legacy finance firms seeking low‑latency settlement, cementing Monad as a preferred Layer‑1 for enterprise use.

Bear Case: The broader L1 market continues to see token erosion; investors remain skeptical after repeated token‑price crashes. If Monad’s performance benchmarks fall short of advertised TPS or if regulatory headwinds stall institutional onboarding, MON could mirror the 50%+ decline seen in ZetaChain and Berachain.

For risk‑adjusted exposure, consider a staggered entry: allocate a modest position now to capture potential upside from the executive hires, while setting stop‑loss levels near the current 52% discount from its all‑time high. Keep an eye on TVL growth and partnership announcements as leading indicators of institutional traction.