MON outperforms market as upgrade, staking vaults drive demand

Monad (MON) has seen its bullish momentum weaken over the past few months.

Although the token is currently trading at $0.02096, up 2.6% over the last 24 hours, it is down 10.5% over the past month.

This modest gain is notable as it outperforms the broader crypto market, which has been experiencing a downturn.

Catalysts supporting MON

One key factor behind the recent resilience is the upcoming MONAD_NINE network upgrade.

Scheduled for deployment in early February 2026, the upgrade promises three major improvements aimed at enhancing network efficiency and predictability.

Such upgrades signal active development and long-term commitment from the team.

Traders are positioning ahead of the event, creating near-term narrative-driven buying pressure.

Investors should watch official channels for deployment dates and testnet performance metrics.

Another bullish driver comes from DeFi demand.

Liquid staking protocol Kintsu launched SuperMON vaults on Monad, offering a 14.51% annual percentage yield (APY).

These vaults quickly surpassed $100 million in total value locked (TVL), requiring MON tokens for participation.

The high-yield nature of these vaults encourages investors to lock up MON, directly reducing circulating supply and increasing demand.

This form of capital is more stable than speculative trading, providing fundamental support for the token price.

However, changes in vault APY or TVL could affect demand dynamics.

Adding another layer of potential support is the possible public buyback program.

The Monad team announced it may conduct opportunistic buybacks of up to $30 million worth of MON in the first half of 2026.

These buybacks are discretionary and may be initiated, paused, or terminated at any time.

While not a guaranteed purchase, the announcement signals confidence in the token and could create additional short-term buying pressure.

Monad price forecast

Over the last seven days, MON has gained 15.41%, reflecting some recovery despite broader market weakness.

Its all-time high of $0.04883 in late November 2025 is still far off, while the recent all-time low of $0.01671 in December 2025 shows the token’s volatility.

The combination of technical upgrades, high-yield DeFi demand, and a potential buyback creates a complex picture for investors.

Traders should watch the pivot point at $0.020227, which acts as key short-term support.

The near-term resistance lies around $0.024, where previous gains have stalled.

If MON can hold above the pivot and benefit from the MONAD_NINE upgrade or buyback activity, a rally toward $0.024 or higher is possible.

Conversely, a break below $0.0202 could open the door for further short-term losses.

In addition, investors and traders should monitor the upgrade timeline, vault activity, and market reactions closely, as these factors are likely to drive price action in the coming weeks.

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