aPriori (APR): MEV-Powered Liquid Staking Protocol for Monad
aPriori is an MEV-powered liquid staking protocol built natively for the Monad blockchain. Founded by Ray (former Jump Crypto and Flow Traders trader) in 2023, this platform has raised $30 million from Pantera Capital, Binance Labs, and HashKey Capital to deliver enhanced staking yields through MEV optimization.
What is aPriori (APR)?
aPriori is an MEV infrastructure and liquid staking protocol designed for parallel execution blockchains and built natively on Monad. Users stake $MON tokens and receive liquid aprMON tokens in return, which are usable across DeFi platforms while continuing to accrue enhanced yield from both validator rewards and MEV capture.
Traditional liquid staking solutions only provide standard validator rewards, resulting in lower annual returns. Most protocols lack MEV optimization and force users to lock assets without DeFi composability.
Core Innovation: aPriori addresses these challenges by capturing additional MEV revenue to enable higher yields through optimized transaction ordering, providing liquid aprMON tokens that maintain flexibility across DeFi without locking principal, and improving validator economics while reducing network spam through structured MEV marketplace design.
Who Created aPriori (APR)?
aPriori was founded in 2023 by Ray, known in the crypto community as "Just Ray," who leads the project as CEO.
Ray (CEO & Founder):
● Former high-frequency trader at Flow Traders, a top global market-making firm
● Led special projects at Jump Crypto with deep expertise in MEV and trading system design
● Background in crypto infrastructure and market-making central to aPriori's technical architecture
The founding team combines high-frequency trading expertise with crypto infrastructure experience, though additional team member details remain limited in public materials as of September 2025, with most focus on Ray's leadership role.
What VCs Back aPriori (APR)?
aPriori has raised approximately $30 million across multiple funding rounds from top-tier venture capital firms and strategic investors.
Funding Rounds:
● Pre-Seed Round (January 2024): $2.7 million
● Seed Round (July 2024): $8 million at $100 million valuation
● Strategic Round (August 2025): $20 million
● Total Raised: $30 million
Major Venture Capital Backers:
● Pantera Capital (lead investor across multiple rounds)
● Binance Labs / YZi Labs (incubation and investment)
● HashKey Capital
● Primitive Ventures
● IMC Trading
● ConsenSys & ConsenSys Mesh
● Flow Traders
● OKX Ventures
● CMS Holdings
● Hashed
● Arrington Capital
● Laser Digital (Nomura's VC arm)
● Manifold Trading
● Chorus One
● Everstake Capital
● Staking Facilities
● Big Brain Collective
● Ambush Capital
● Gate Labs
● GEM
The fundraising includes participation from both leading crypto VCs and traditional financial market players who recognize the protocol's focus on high-frequency trading infrastructure and MEV optimization for DeFi.
How aPriori (APR) Works
aPriori operates as a liquid staking protocol that helps users earn higher rewards on their $MON tokens while keeping those tokens flexible for use in DeFi through MEV optimization.
MEV-Powered Staking
Users deposit $MON tokens on aPriori and receive aprMON tokens representing their staked position. The protocol pools staked $MON, participates in validator activities, and engages in the MEV marketplace to capture both normal validator rewards and extra MEV revenue, which can be redeemed by aprMON holders.
Liquid aprMON Token
aprMON tokens are ERC-4626 compatible and fully liquid, allowing holders to use or trade their staked position across Monad DeFi applications. Users can deploy aprMON for lending, liquidity provision, or yield farming strategies without unstaking, maintaining capital efficiency.
Non-Custodial Design
All staking actions remain self-custodial, with users retaining full control and able to stake or unstake anytime without relinquishing control to a centralized party.
MEV Infrastructure Layer
The protocol integrates an internal MEV market that optimizes transaction ordering for additional yield, distributing these extra profits alongside regular validator rewards through aprMON appreciation.
You can access the platform at apr.io and explore documentation at aprlabs.gitbook.io/apriori-docs.
aPriori Token (APR) and Economics
The APR token is the native governance and utility token for the aPriori protocol. When users stake $MON tokens, they receive aprMON as a liquid staking receipt token, while APR serves as the protocol's main token.
Token Details
● Token Name: APR
● Token Symbol: APR
● Total Supply: 1,000,000,000 tokens (1 billion)
● Blockchain Deployment: Monad (native), with contract deployment pending
● Initial Circulation: 18.5%
● Current TVL: 4,946,300 MON
● Current Holders: 3,461,367
Token Distribution
● Early Supporters: 16% (1-year cliff, 2-year linear vesting)
● Foundation: 16% (4-year cliff, quarterly release post-TGE)
● Core Contributors: 16% (1-year cliff, 3-year linear vesting)
● Community Incentives: 22% (4-year cliff, quarterly release)
● Genesis Airdrop: 12% (100% unlock at TGE)
● Ecosystem Growth: 17% (1-year cliff, 2-year linear vesting)
● Liquidity & Market Stability: 1% (unlock on listing day)
The genesis airdrop will reward early users, contributors, and partner communities based on snapshot criteria including liquid staking participants, Swapr users, and verified wallets. The project estimates over 200,000-500,000 independent APR holders through the airdrop program, with current testnet showing 3 million independent wallets holding the LST.
Token Utilities
● Protocol Governance: Holders participate in protocol upgrades, parameter changes, and strategic decisions
● Staking Rewards: Users earn APR through staking participation and protocol usage
● DeFi Integration: APR can be used across Monad DeFi ecosystem for various applications
● Liquidity Mining: Incentivizes liquidity provision and ecosystem growth
● MEV Revenue Sharing: Access to protocol-generated MEV profits
Why aPriori?
Traditional liquid staking protocols lack MEV optimization and provide limited yield opportunities. aPriori addresses these challenges with proven innovations:
Experienced Leadership: Founded by former Jump Crypto and Flow Traders high-frequency trader Ray, combining deep expertise in MEV, trading system design, and crypto infrastructure.
Strong VC Backing: $30 million raised from Pantera Capital, Binance Labs, HashKey Capital, and top crypto VCs, plus participation from traditional market makers like IMC Trading and Flow Traders.
Binance Labs Incubation: Participated in Binance Labs' Season 6 Incubation Program, providing early funding, mentorship, and ecosystem access for accelerated development.
Strategic Partnerships: Integrations with Monad blockchain ecosystem, Backpack Exchange for staking activities, and partnerships with leading validator operators and DeFi protocols.
Technical Innovation: First MEV-powered liquid staking protocol for Monad with parallel execution MEV marketplace, FPGA-based optimization, and AI-powered order flow segmentation for enhanced yield capture.
DeFi Composability: aprMON liquid staking tokens are fully composable across Monad DeFi, enabling lending, borrowing, liquidity provision, and yield farming strategies while maintaining staking exposure.
Strong Adoption: Already reached 4.9 million MON TVL with over 3.4 million holders, demonstrating significant market traction and user adoption.
The platform delivers higher staking yields through MEV optimization while maintaining full liquidity and DeFi composability, creating sustainable returns for Monad holders.
APR Goes Live on Bitget
We are thrilled to announce that aPriori (APR) is coming to Bitget Launchpool and will be listed in the Innovation and DeFi Zone.
Trading Available: 23 October 2025, 13:00 (UTC)
Trade APR/USDT on Bitget!
APR Goes Live on Bitget Launchpool — Lock BGB & APR to share 1,333,333 APR
Locking period: 23 October 2025, 14:00 – 25 October 2025, 14:00 (UTC)
Locking pool 1: Lock BGB to share 1,222,222 APR
Locking pool 2: Lock APR to share 111,111 APR
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only. This article does not constitute an endorsement of any of the products and services discussed or investment, financial, or trading advice. Qualified professionals should be consulted prior to making financial decisions.
