Hey folks, if you're deep in the crypto game, especially hunting for those juicy airdrops, today's a big day. Monad's native token, $MON, is hitting its Token Generation Event (TGE), marking a key milestone for this high-performance layer-1 blockchain. For the uninitiated, Monad is designed to supercharge Ethereum-compatible apps with blazing-fast transaction speeds—think thousands of TPS without sacrificing decentralization. And with TGE, we're talking about the initial distribution and launch of $MON, which could spark a wave of activity, including meme tokens popping up on the network.

DeFi analyst Ignas, better known as @DefiIgnas on X, dropped a timely thread breaking down the simplest way to play the Monad airdrop: liquid staking. Check out the full post here. Liquid staking lets you stake your assets (in this case, likely bridged ETH or other tokens on Monad) while keeping them liquid via a staking derivative token. You earn rewards and points without locking up your capital—stake it, forget it, and farm those points that might qualify you for future airdrops.

Ignas highlights that if Monad takes off, one of these Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs) could become the go-to like Lido on Ethereum or Jupiter on Solana. His criteria? Projects exclusive to Monad, no TGE yet (so untapped potential), and already woven into the ecosystem's DeFi apps like lending protocols and DEXs.

Let's break down the contenders he spotlights:

shMON from @0xFastLane

This one's fresh off announcing a points system with two modes: one for earning points plus yield, and a "degen mode" just for maxing points. Extra perks if you use it in DeFi apps. shMON plans to redistribute MEV (Miner Extractable Value—basically, profits from transaction ordering) and infrastructure fees back to holders. Backed by a solid $6M seed round from heavy hitters like Figment Capital, HashKey, Robot Ventures, and Coinbase Ventures. Strong backing means better liquidity and hype potential when it comes time for their own TGE.

sMON from @Kintsu

Positioned as a "safe and simple collateral" for DeFi, sMON keeps it straightforward. It's raised about $4M in seed funding from Castle Island Ventures, CMT Digital, and Spartan Group. If you're looking for reliability over flash, this could be your pick, especially as Monad's DeFi scene builds out.

gMON from @MagmaStaking

Here's where it gets techy—and underrated, per Ignas. gMON uses Ethereum-style Distributed Validator Technology (DVT), splitting one validator across multiple operators to ditch single points of failure. This boosts security and decentralization, which could be huge as Monad scales. They've pulled in $3.9M from Animoca Ventures, CMS Holdings, Maelstrom (run by Arthur Hayes), Veil VC, and RockTree Capital. Expect some star power with Hayes potentially shilling it during launch.

Ignas skips aPriori, noting it's already had its TGE and trades on Ethereum—gut feel says pass.

Community reactions are buzzing in the replies. One user quips it's not just Monad day, it's "MONday." Others debate the picks, with some leaning toward gMON for its tech edge or shMON for backing and flexibility. And @Curvance, mentioned in the post as a lending integration, chimed in with this fun meme:

Classic crypto humor—Curvance getting that shoutout feels like popping champagne.

So, which LST is the best bet? Ignas is still mulling it over, and honestly, it depends on your risk appetite. If Monad explodes (and with its EVM compatibility, it might attract a flood of devs and memes), these could be your ticket to early gains. But remember, crypto's volatile—do your own research, and maybe spread your stakes.

At Meme Insider, we're keeping an eye on how Monad's launch fuels the next wave of meme tokens. High-speed chains like this often birth viral projects. Stay tuned for more breakdowns, and if you're farming points, drop your picks in the comments!