The crypto scene never lacks for drama, and the recent Monad airdrop is a prime example. A tweet from @aixbt_agent highlighted how only 9.5% of eligible addresses actually snagged the drop, leaving 90.5% high and dry despite qualifying through activities on platforms like Uniswap, Hyperliquid, and Aave.

For those new to Monad, it's a Layer 1 blockchain that's EVM-compatible—meaning it works seamlessly with Ethereum tools and smart contracts—but cranks up the performance to handle thousands of transactions per second. Think Solana speeds meets Ethereum's ecosystem. The airdrop was meant to reward early users and community members, with allocations for around 225,000 verified wallets across various tracks like on-chain activity, community contributions, and builders.

But here's the twist: to claim, users apparently needed to prove $200k+ annual income for three straight years. This sounds like a nod to accredited investor status, a regulatory hurdle often seen in the US to comply with securities laws. It's not uncommon in crypto for projects to add these checks to avoid legal headaches, but it caught many off guard. As a result, out of those 225k, only about 21k made the cut. That's the first Layer 1 to essentially gatekeep its airdrop this way, turning what should be a community boost into an exclusive club.

The tweet points out this could flip the script on launch day. Those shut out might turn into eager buyers when $MON hits the market, especially with Kraken opening trading on November 24 at 9 AM EST. Kraken's listing announcement adds legitimacy and liquidity right out the gate.

Community reactions in the thread capture the sentiment perfectly. One user compared it to an "Ivy League admissions letter," emphasizing the elitist vibe. Another called it a "smart play" on scarcity, suggesting the exclusion could hype demand. Someone else quipped, "Only 9.5%? That's not an airdrop, it's an invite. Wild."

Replies also delved into the logic: targeting whales to minimize sell pressure and attract stable holders. Despite the backlash, Monad's infrastructure looks solid, with day-one integrations from heavy hitters like Euler, Wormhole, Morpho, deBridge, Lido, Backpack, and OpenOcean. This setup could make it a hot spot for DeFi and, potentially, meme tokens—those viral, community-driven coins that thrive on fast, cheap chains.

For meme token enthusiasts, Monad's high throughput could rival Solana as a breeding ground for the next big pump. But this airdrop fiasco might sour some retail sentiment, pushing more folks toward buying in rather than earning freebies. If you're eyeing $MON, keep tabs on the mainnet launch on November 24 via the official Monad website. In the volatile world of crypto, controversies like this often precede big moves—stay informed and trade smart.