Marinade vs Jito vs Sanctum 2026

Quick comparison table

APY estimates as of Q2 2026; rates vary with network conditions. Confirm on each protocol's app.

Use our APY calculator in the Staking Hub →

Marinade Finance (mSOL)

Marinade Finance is Solana's oldest and most battle-tested liquid staking protocol. When you stake SOL on Marinade, you receive mSOL — a token that automatically appreciates in value relative to SOL as staking rewards accrue. You never need to manually claim rewards; they're built into the mSOL price.

How it works

• Deposit SOL → receive mSOL (1 mSOL > 1 SOL, ratio grows over time)
• Marinade delegates to ~200+ validators, diversifying validator risk
• Instant unstake available (small fee) or standard unstake (3–5 days, no fee)

Who it's best for

Marinade is ideal if you want a stable, widely-accepted LST for DeFi use. mSOL is accepted in MarginFi, Kamino, Drift, Orca, and most major Solana DeFi protocols. It's the safest first liquid staking pick.

Stake SOL on Marinade →

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Jito (jitoSOL)

Jito is the MEV-native liquid staking protocol on Solana. When you stake with Jito, you receive jitoSOL and earn both standard staking rewards and a share of MEV (Maximum Extractable Value) tips generated by Jito's block engine. In high-activity markets, this MEV boost can meaningfully outperform standard staking APY.

How it works

• Deposit SOL → receive jitoSOL (auto-compounding, like mSOL)
• Jito's block engine routes transactions to Jito-enabled validators, capturing MEV tips
• MEV tips are distributed pro-rata to jitoSOL holders — effectively boosting yield above base staking rate
• Standard unstake: 3–7 days; instant liquidity via AMMs (e.g. Jupiter)

Who it's best for

Jito is the better choice if you want maximum yield and are comfortable with slightly more variable APY (MEV income fluctuates with network activity). During bull markets and high-activity periods, jitoSOL consistently out-earns mSOL on raw APY.

Stake SOL on Jito →

Sanctum — the LST aggregator

Sanctum is not a traditional staking protocol — it's a liquidity layer for all Solana LSTs. Its main products:

• Infinity pool: Swap between mSOL, jitoSOL, bSOL, and 50+ other LSTs at tight spreads without a 3–5 day unstake wait
• RAIN LST: Sanctum's own validator-backed LST, with yields distributed partly in CLOUD (governance token)
• Sanctum router: Aggregates LST liquidity across DEXes to give users the best swap rate

Who it's best for

Sanctum is best used alongside Marinade or Jito, not instead of them. If you hold mSOL and want to switch to jitoSOL quickly, Sanctum handles that in one swap. If you want to experiment with smaller LSTs (bSOL, cgSOL, dSOL) or farm CLOUD points, Sanctum is the hub.

Explore Sanctum →

Using LSTs in DeFi (mSOL vs jitoSOL)

Both mSOL and jitoSOL can be used as collateral in Solana DeFi. Common strategies:

• Borrow against LST: Deposit mSOL or jitoSOL in MarginFi or Kamino → borrow USDC → reinvest in more SOL staking (yield loop). Adds liquidation risk — use conservatively.
• LP in AMMs: Provide mSOL/SOL or jitoSOL/SOL liquidity on Orca or Raydium to earn swap fees on top of staking yield. Impermanent loss is low given both sides are correlated.
• Sanctum swap between LSTs: Move between mSOL and jitoSOL when yield spreads favor one over the other.

Risks of liquid staking

• Smart contract risk: Protocol bugs could affect your stake. Both Marinade and Jito are heavily audited, but no smart contract is risk-free.
• LST de-peg risk: In extreme market events, mSOL or jitoSOL could trade below their SOL-equivalent value on secondary markets. Both have recovered quickly from minor de-pegs historically.
• Validator risk: Both Marinade and Jito delegate to 100–200+ validators, minimizing single-validator downtime risk.
• Solana does not slash delegators — your stake cannot be taken away for validator misbehavior.

Verdict: which one to use in 2026?

• Best for beginners: Marinade — simplest interface, most widely accepted mSOL, stable APY.
• Best for yield: Jito — MEV rebates consistently add 0.3–1%+ APY above base staking rate during active markets.
• Best for LST flexibility: Sanctum — use it to route between LSTs efficiently, not as a primary staking destination.
• Not a fan of liquid staking? Use Tangem in-app staking (~5.87% APY) — simplest path, no DeFi exposure, self-custody.

FAQ

Is Marinade or Jito better for Solana liquid staking in 2026?

Marinade is better for DeFi collateral use and stability; Jito is better for raw yield due to MEV rebates. Both are non-custodial and audited. Many users hold both.

What is Sanctum on Solana?

Sanctum is a LST aggregator and liquidity layer that lets users swap between mSOL, jitoSOL, bSOL, and 50+ other LSTs without a standard unstaking wait. It also issues its own RAIN LST and CLOUD governance token.

Can I use mSOL or jitoSOL as DeFi collateral?

Yes. Both are accepted as collateral in MarginFi, Kamino, Drift, and most major Solana lending protocols. This lets you earn staking yield while borrowing against your position.

Is liquid staking on Solana safe?

Liquid staking carries smart contract risk and minor LST de-peg risk. Solana does not slash delegators. Both Marinade and Jito delegate across 100–200+ validators and have undergone multiple security audits.