The Ethereum-based NFT gaming sensation Fantasy Top is taking a bold leap forward—expanding beyond its roots on the Blast Layer-2 network to debut on Monad, a high-performance Layer-1 blockchain making waves in the crypto ecosystem. With the launch of Monad’s testnet, Fantasy Top has introduced a free-to-play version of its game, signaling a strategic push toward broader accessibility and scalability in decentralized gaming.
This move isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about redefining how social influence translates into on-chain engagement. By integrating with Monad, Fantasy Top aims to deliver faster transactions, lower fees, and a more seamless user experience, all critical factors for sustaining long-term player interest in blockchain games.
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What Is Fantasy Top?
At its core, Fantasy Top mirrors traditional fantasy sports—but swaps athletes for top crypto influencers on X (formerly Twitter), whom the game dubs “heroes.” Instead of scoring points based on touchdowns or home runs, these digital avatars earn performance metrics based on real-world social media activity: likes, retweets, replies, and overall engagement.
Players build lineups of these hero cards and compete in weekly contests, where their chosen influencers’ online clout determines success. The more viral a “hero” goes during the scoring period, the higher their fantasy value climbs.
Notable figures in the crypto space—including Ansem, ThreadGuy, and Truth Terminal—have been immortalized as playable NFT cards. These aren’t just collectibles; they’re functional assets within an evolving gameplay economy that rewards strategy, timing, and community insight.
Why Monad? The Strategic Shift
After launching successfully on Blast, an Ethereum Layer-2 solution known for its yield-generating capabilities, Fantasy Top saw explosive early growth. In its first weeks, the game recorded over $21 million in trading volume and attracted 31,000 users, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon across Crypto Twitter.
However, like many web3 games, it faced the classic challenge of user retention. Weekly active users dipped below 1,500 after November 2024, highlighting the need for a new growth vector. Enter Monad—a parallelized EVM-compatible blockchain designed for speed and scale.
With support for up to 10,000 transactions per second (TPS) and sub-second finality, Monad offers the kind of performance necessary to support mass-market applications. For a game like Fantasy Top—where real-time data updates and frequent interactions are essential—this upgrade could be transformative.
“Partnering with Monad is an incredible opportunity to push the boundaries of what on-chain experiences can achieve at scale,” said Travis Bickle, the pseudonymous creator of Fantasy Top.
Free-to-Play Access on Monad Testnet
To celebrate the integration, Fantasy Top has launched a free-to-play experience exclusively on the Monad testnet. This version allows anyone to jump in without financial barrier, claim a free pack of 15 hero cards, and begin competing immediately.
Players can earn rewards such as:
- XP (experience points)
- Tickets (used for entering contests)
- fMON (a testnet token used to purchase additional cards on the in-game marketplace)
The first official competition is scheduled to go live shortly after the testnet launch, with registration already open. The initiative aims to hit 100,000 daily active users (DAU)—an ambitious target that underscores the team’s confidence in Monad’s scalability.
“Today, we’re bringing back the vibes that started it all—Fantasy Top Free to Play, exclusively on Monad testnet. ✨ This collaboration is the first step on the road to 100k DAU, making Fantasy more accessible than ever.”
— fantasy.top (@fantasy_top_)
Additionally, top performers may earn whitelist spots for upcoming NFT mints on Monad’s mainnet—an early-bird advantage that adds tangible value to competitive play.
The Bigger Picture: Financializing Social Influence
Fantasy Top isn’t just a game—it’s part of a broader trend toward financializing social capital in web3. By turning online influence into quantifiable, tradable assets, it blurs the line between content creation and digital ownership.
In December 2024, the project raised $4.25 million in a funding round led by Dragonfly Capital, reinforcing its mission to build sustainable economic models around social engagement. With this backing and now a partnership with one of crypto’s most anticipated Layer-1 chains, Fantasy Top is positioning itself at the intersection of culture, technology, and finance.
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What Is Monad?
Monad is an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible Layer-1 blockchain built for speed and scalability. It leverages parallel execution—a technical innovation that allows multiple transactions to be processed simultaneously—unlike traditional blockchains that handle operations sequentially.
This architecture enables Monad to process thousands of transactions per second while maintaining full compatibility with existing Ethereum tools and smart contracts. The network recently launched its testnet and distributed testnet tokens to over 8.8 million EVM wallets, based on cross-chain activity history.
Having raised $244 million from top-tier investors, Monad is emerging as a serious contender to networks like Solana and Ethereum. While its mainnet launch date remains unannounced, early integrations with projects like Fantasy Top suggest strong momentum.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Fantasy Top?
Fantasy Top is a blockchain-based fantasy sports game where players draft NFT cards of top crypto influencers ("heroes") and compete based on their real-world social media performance metrics like engagement and reach.
Is Fantasy Top free to play?
Yes. A free-to-play version is now available on the Monad testnet. Players can claim 15 free hero cards and start competing without any upfront cost.
What blockchain is Fantasy Top moving to?
Fantasy Top is expanding to Monad, a high-speed Layer-1 blockchain. While it originally launched on Blast (an Ethereum Layer-2), this new integration enhances scalability and user access.
How do you earn rewards in Fantasy Top?
Players earn rewards through gameplay—including XP, contest tickets, and fMON tokens. High-ranking players may also receive whitelist access to exclusive NFT drops on Monad.
What are hero cards in Fantasy Top?
Hero cards are NFTs representing prominent crypto personalities such as Ansem and ThreadGuy. These cards have attributes tied to real-time social engagement and are used to build competitive lineups.
When will Monad launch its mainnet?
As of now, there is no official date set for Monad’s mainnet launch. However, the successful rollout of its testnet marks a significant milestone toward full deployment.
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Final Thoughts
The expansion of Fantasy Top onto Monad represents more than a technical upgrade—it’s a statement about the future of web3 gaming. By combining engaging mechanics with scalable infrastructure, the project demonstrates how blockchain games can evolve beyond niche communities into mainstream experiences.
As Monad continues to develop and attract developer attention, collaborations like this could become blueprints for sustainable growth in decentralized entertainment. For players, creators, and investors alike, the convergence of social influence and on-chain interactivity has never looked more promising.