A mechanism where staked SOL is represented by a transferable token (LST) that accrues staking rewards while remaining usable in DeFi. Instead of locking SOL with a validator, users deposit into a liquid staking pool and receive tokens like mSOL (Marinade), jitoSOL (Jito), or bSOL (BlazeStake). LSTs typically appreciate against SOL at the staking APY.
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A mechanism where staked SOL is represented by a transferable token (LST) that accrues staking rewards while remaining usable in DeFi. Instead of locking SOL with a validator, users deposit into a liquid staking pool and receive tokens like mSOL (Marinade), jitoSOL (Jito), or bSOL (BlazeStake). LSTs typically appreciate against SOL at the staking APY.
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AMMs, routing, liquidity, lending, and trading infrastructure.
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Liquid Staking (liquid-staking) Category: DeFi Definition: A mechanism where staked SOL is represented by a transferable token (LST) that accrues staking rewards while remaining usable in DeFi. Instead of locking SOL with a validator, users deposit into a liquid staking pool and receive tokens like mSOL (Marinade), jitoSOL (Jito), or bSOL (BlazeStake). LSTs typically appreciate against SOL at the staking APY. Aliases: LST Related: Stake, Marinade Finance, JitoSOL
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SOL tokens that are delegated to a validator to increase its voting weight and earn staking rewards. Staking is non-custodial—stakers retain ownership of their SOL. Stake activates/deactivates at epoch boundaries with a warmup/cooldown period. Validators with more stake are assigned more leader slots and have proportionally more influence in consensus.
The largest liquid staking protocol on Solana. Users deposit SOL and receive mSOL, a liquid staking token that appreciates as staking rewards accrue (~6-7% APY). Marinade delegates stake across 400+ validators using an automated scoring algorithm, promoting decentralization. It also offers Marinade Native for direct staking without an LST.
The liquid staking token issued by Jito, representing staked SOL that earns both standard staking rewards and MEV tips. JitoSOL often offers higher APY (~7-8%) than other LSTs because Jito validators share MEV revenue with stakers. The underlying SOL is delegated to validators running the Jito client.
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A tokenized receipt representing restaked assets in protocols like EigenLayer, allowing users to maintain DeFi liquidity while earning restaking yields. When users restake LSTs via protocols like EtherFi (eETH) or Renzo (ezETH), they receive LRTs that can be used as collateral, traded, or deployed in additional DeFi strategies. LRTs reached $14 billion combined market cap by 2025.
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SOL tokens that are delegated to a validator to increase its voting weight and earn staking rewards. Staking is non-custodial—stakers retain ownership of their SOL. Stake activates/deactivates at epoch boundaries with a warmup/cooldown period. Validators with more stake are assigned more leader slots and have proportionally more influence in consensus.
The largest liquid staking protocol on Solana. Users deposit SOL and receive mSOL, a liquid staking token that appreciates as staking rewards accrue (~6-7% APY). Marinade delegates stake across 400+ validators using an automated scoring algorithm, promoting decentralization. It also offers Marinade Native for direct staking without an LST.
The liquid staking token issued by Jito, representing staked SOL that earns both standard staking rewards and MEV tips. JitoSOL often offers higher APY (~7-8%) than other LSTs because Jito validators share MEV revenue with stakers. The underlying SOL is delegated to validators running the Jito client.
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A protocol that enables token swaps using algorithmic pricing against pooled liquidity instead of matching individual buyers and sellers. AMMs use mathematical formulas (typically constant product x*y=k) to determine prices based on the ratio of tokens in a liquidity pool. On Solana, major AMMs include Raydium, Orca, and Meteora.
An AMM design where liquidity providers concentrate their capital within specific price ranges instead of across the full 0-to-infinity range. CLMMs dramatically improve capital efficiency—LPs earn more fees per dollar deposited within their active range. If the price moves outside the range, the position becomes inactive. Orca Whirlpools and Raydium CLMM are leading implementations on Solana.
A smart-contract-held reserve of two or more tokens that enables trading via an AMM. Users deposit token pairs in specified ratios to become liquidity providers and earn trading fees. Pools are identified by their token pair and fee tier. Pool depth (total value locked) determines price impact for trades.
A token issued to liquidity providers representing their proportional share of a pool's reserves and accrued fees. LP tokens can be burned to withdraw the underlying assets. The value of LP tokens changes as the pool's token ratios shift and fees accumulate. LP tokens are often stakeable in yield farming programs for additional rewards.