Coinbase Revs Up U.S. Retail Crypto Demand with Monad’s MON Token Launch

Coinbase just flipped the 'on' switch for U.S. retail investors—Monad’s MON token hits the platform with fireworks.

Why this matters: After months of regulatory limbo, America’s crypto gateway is back in the token listing game. MON’s debut signals Coinbase’s renewed aggression in retail markets—just as institutional players start eyeing exits.

The setup: No fanfare, no pre-announcement whispers. Just a clean, sudden listing that sent traders scrambling. Classic Coinbase—move fast and let regulators sort it out later.

Between the lines: While Wall Street hedge funds quietly unwind crypto positions to chase AI hype, Main Street’s buying the dip. MON’s launch timing? Either brilliantly contrarian or dangerously tone-deaf—pick your narrative.

Bottom line: When the suits zig, retail zags. And Coinbase? They’re just happy to take the vig on both sides.

• Coinbase launches a new public token sales platform for retail investors.
• Monad’s MON token will be the first to debut on it.
• The platform ensures fair distribution and limits large buyers.
• It marks a return to regulated token sales in the U.S. after 2018.

Coinbase has taken a major step toward revitalizing retail crypto participation with the launch of its new public token sales platform. The initiative restores access to token sales for U.S. investors, marking the first since the 2018 regulatory crackdown that ended the ICO boom. According to The Wall Street Journal, the exchange aims to make early-stage token access more inclusive and transparent.

The platform’s first token sale will feature Monad, a blockchain startup developing an Ethereum-compatible LAYER 1 network. The MON token sale will run from November 17 to November 22, ahead of Monad’s mainnet debut on November 24. Coinbase says the platform is designed to balance fairness and opportunity, using a system that allocates tokens to genuine users rather than large investors.

Announcing the MON public sale: the first ever token sale on Coinbase

The sale starts on November 17th and will be accessible in over 80 countries, including the U.S. 🇺🇸

More details belowpic.twitter.com/lOs7fv11kF

The integrity of this system will be upheld by tracking token performance after listing. Those who sell tokens in the first 30 days will be allocated lower amounts when tokens are sold in the future. This mechanism encourages longer-term participation and discourages speculative flipping.

A New Chapter After 2018’s ICO Clampdown

The resurgence of retail token offerings is a big change in policy for the U.S. During 2016-2018, ICOs saw huge popularity. They helped projects raise billions of dollars. However, due to this steep increase in popularity, scams and trading activities in these tokens began to happen. This resulted in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission coming up with measures to control it. Hence, all projects had to shift to other countries or even restrict fundraising for accredited individuals only.

The platform by Coinbase reinstates public engagement with a structured model. Information about token economics, team, and terms for fundraising is now required by every project listed. Also, a six-month lock-up period is required for all issuers, which does not allow for reselling on the secondary market without Coinbase’s permission. The platform will now take a small portion of USDC selling fees instead of charging users.

These developments have been fueled by recent political developments. Today’s U.S. administration has shown a more accommodating attitude towards digital currencies, supporting innovation combined with regulation. Coinbase will hold one token sale each month and will work towards adding features such as limit orders and specific allocations.

Monad Launches First on Coinbase’s Platform

MON tokens will be the first ones to be launched on Coinbase’s new public token sale platform. The initiative will sell 7.5 billion MON tokens out of 100 billion tokens, which is 7.5%, with each token selling for $0.025. The purchase limits will vary between $100 and $100,000, and any tokens left unsold will be used for ecosystem development.

The model focuses on equity and decentralization. Approximately 3.3% has been airdropped to loyal supporters, while 38.5% will go towards developing this environment. The rest is locked up for a period of one year for team and investment allocation.