Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 blockchain Monad announced the launch of Monad Testnet-2, an experimental testing environment aimed at preparing validators for the upcoming mainnet deployment.
Between 100 and 150 participants will be selected to engage in this validator-focused phase. Scheduled to begin in late May and run for approximately ten weeks, Testnet-2 will expose participants to various network conditions and operational challenges. The initiative is expected to provide practical experience with the Monad client for new validators, support performance optimization through structured staging and testing, and contribute to broader geographical distribution of the network’s nodes.
This validator-oriented testnet will operate concurrently with the existing public testnet, with no anticipated impact on regular users.
Monad Testnet-2: Validator Hardware Requirements And Selection Criteria Announced
It is advised that validators operate on bare metal servers, as virtual machine configurations have shown inconsistent performance during previous testing phases. To meet the technical requirements for participating in Monad Testnet-2, validator nodes should use a CPU with at least 16 cores and a base clock speed of 4.5 GHz or higher, with architectures based on AMD Zen 4 or newer, or Intel Raptor Lake or newer platforms. A minimum of 32GB of RAM is required. For storage, validators will need two 2TB SSDs—one for TrieDB (execution) and one for MonadBFT and operating system functions. Both drives should be PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe or equivalent. Network bandwidth of 1 Gbps is also required, and SSD performance may vary depending on the manufacturer.
Validator selection will consider a variety of criteria. These include operational experience, particularly on high-performance blockchain networks; a demonstrated ability to commit to active and responsive participation; geographic location, with a focus on increasing representation from regions such as South America, Africa, and Oceania; and infrastructure type, with a preference for self-hosted environments and underutilized data centers.
Interested parties must submit a completed Testnet-2 Interest Form to be considered for participation.
Announcing Monad Testnet-2!
Testnet-2 is an experimental environment for enhancing validator readiness for mainnet – this is for validators, not for users.
A total of 100-150 participants will be selected. T-2 is expected to last for 10 weeks starting in late May. pic.twitter.com/ias3KBv8LE
— Monad ⨀ (@monad_xyz) May 8, 2025
Monad: What Is It?
Monad is a Layer 1 blockchain platform created for high throughput while remaining compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Developed to address scalability limitations, it targets a processing capacity of up to 10,000 transactions per second without compromising on decentralization. This performance is enabled through parallel execution and other technical enhancements.
The public testnet for Monad launched in February, 2025, and has since recorded several key indicators of activity and growth. More than 303 million unique addresses have been generated, and over 564,000 smart contracts have been deployed. The network currently operates with a block time of approximately 0.5 seconds and maintains a transaction success rate of 98.3%.
In April 2024, Monad Labs raised $225 million in a funding round led by Paradigm, with additional participation from Electric Capital, Greenoaks, and Coinbase Ventures.
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