The Solana blockchain continues to push the boundaries of scalability, speed, and capital efficiency—and restaking has emerged as one of its most transformative innovations. By allowing users to reuse already-staked SOL across multiple protocols, restaking unlocks new layers of security, yield optimization, and cross-chain interoperability. This article dives deep into how restaking works on Solana, its core benefits, leading projects driving adoption, and what it means for the future of decentralized networks.
What Is Restaking on Solana?
Restaking enables users to take their staked SOL or liquid staking tokens (LSTs) like mSOL or JitoSOL and deploy them again—this time to secure additional protocols or earn extra rewards—without sacrificing their original staking returns. Inspired by Ethereum’s EigenLayer, restaking on Solana enhances capital efficiency by letting assets serve dual purposes: securing the base layer and supporting decentralized applications (dApps), middleware layers, or even other blockchains.
Unlike traditional staking where assets are locked into a single validator set, restaking introduces a modular security model. Validators can now extend their influence across multiple Active Validation Services (AVSs), while users gain exposure to diversified yield sources including MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) rewards and protocol incentives.
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How Does Restaking Work on Solana?
The technical architecture behind Solana’s restaking involves several interconnected components designed to maximize both security and returns.
Step-by-Step Process
- Deposit: Users deposit either native SOL or LSTs (e.g., mSOL, JitoSOL) into a restaking protocol’s pool manager.
- Conversion: The deposited assets are converted into an intermediate token (e.g., sSOL-raw), then finalized into a liquidity restaking token (LRT), such as sSOL.
- Delegation & Distribution: The restaking protocol delegates these assets across a curated network of validators optimized for MEV returns and reliability.
- Security Provision: These validators not only maintain consensus on Solana but also provide security services to AVSs—third-party protocols that rely on external validation.
- Reward Calculation: Rewards from base staking, MEV, and AVS participation are calculated off-chain via state observers and distributed in real time.
This entire process is orchestrated through smart contracts and decentralized governance, ensuring transparency and minimizing trust assumptions.
Key Technical Innovations
- Shared Validator Network (SVN): Enables multiple chains built on Solana to share validator sets, improving security efficiency.
- Stake-Weighted Quality of Service (swQoS): Allocates blockspace based on stake weight—higher-staked users get priority transaction processing, enhancing network fairness and performance.
- MEV Optimization: Protocols like Jito have pioneered MEV-boosted returns, which are now integrated into restaking frameworks to increase yield potential.
Benefits of Restaking on Solana
Restaking isn’t just about higher yields—it reshapes how capital flows within the ecosystem.
1. Enhanced Capital Efficiency
Instead of leaving staked assets idle, restaking allows them to generate compound returns across multiple vectors: base staking rewards, MEV gains, AVS fees, and potential token airdrops. This multi-layered yield structure significantly boosts annual percentage yields (APYs) compared to standard staking.
2. Strengthened Network Security
Each unit of restaked SOL contributes to securing more than just the main chain. By extending trust to AVSs and modular networks, restaking increases the overall attack cost for malicious actors, making the ecosystem more resilient.
3. Improved Liquidity
Most restaking protocols issue LRTs that are fully tradable and usable in DeFi—users can lend, swap, or provide liquidity without unstaking. This preserves earning potential while maintaining flexibility.
4. Support for Emerging Projects
Restaking channels capital toward innovative dApps and infrastructure projects that need reliable security but lack their own native validator base. This accelerates development and fosters a healthier, more diverse ecosystem.
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Leading Restaking Projects on Solana
With over $45.1 billion in total value locked (TVL) across liquid staking solutions—and a 159.2% year-over-year growth rate—Solana’s restaking ecosystem is booming. Here are the top protocols shaping this space.
Solayer: Maximizing Multi-Chain Yield
Solayer is a leading restaking protocol enabling users to stake SOL, mSOL, or JitoSOL to earn base rewards plus MEV and AVS incentives. It features:
- A decentralized validator network reducing reliance on centralized operators
- Support for creating custom AVS LSTs
- Developer-friendly tools: CLI, API docs, and contract interfaces
Backed by Polychain Capital and angel investors including Anatoly Yakovenko (Solana co-founder), Solayer raised $12M in seed funding and reached an $80M valuation. Currently managing $397.64M in TVL with 160K depositors, it offers an APY of 8.15%.
Its phased rollout (Epoch 0–3) prioritized early adopters with bonus points and permanent referral codes—now open to all with no TVL cap.
Cambrian: Modular Security Layer
Cambrian brings EigenLayer-style shared security to Solana using a modular architecture. It allows developers to launch new networks or middleware secured by existing SOL stakes—no new token required.
Key features:
- Reusable security across modular chains
- Independent module deployment for scalability
- Validator incentives for securing AVSs
By decoupling execution from consensus, Cambrian enhances flexibility and composability across the Solana stack.
Picasso: Cross-Chain Restaking via IBC
Built on Cosmos SDK and connected via IBC, Picasso enables Solana assets to be restaked across IBC-compatible chains like Cosmos and Polkadot. It deploys “guest blockchains” on Solana to facilitate cross-chain validation.
Notable aspects:
- Supports SOL, jitoSOL, mSOL, bSOL for restaking
- 40% of bridge fees go to restakers; 20% to PICA stakers
- Partnerships with Raydium and Kamino Finance expand utility
Picasso aims to become a universal restaking hub linking Solana’s high-performance network with broader multi-chain ecosystems.
Jito Restaking: Next-Gen Liquidity Framework
Following its dominance in liquid staking, Jito Labs launched Jito Restaking—a protocol built around two core programs:
- Restaking Program: Manages Node Consensus Operators (NCNs), handles node creation, selection logic, and slashing rules.
- Vault Program: Issues VRTs (Vaulted Restaking Tokens) and supports DAO-driven strategy customization.
Initially allocating 147,000 SOL across three VRT providers:
- RenzoProtocol ($ezSOL): Liquid from day one
- Fragmetric ($fragSOL): High airdrop potential but illiquid initially
- KyrosFi ($kySOL): Promising yield with upcoming token launch
Users choose based on risk tolerance and reward expectations.
Sanctum: Infinite LST Liquidity with Infinity Pool
Sanctum introduces Infinity, a multi-LST liquidity pool supporting seamless swaps between whitelisted tokens like mSOL, bSOL, and stSOL. Its innovation lies in dynamic pricing based on actual SOL backing—eliminating reliance on constant-product models.
Benefits:
- Fair pricing via real-time valuation
- Auto-rebalancing target allocations
- INF token holders earn from trading fees and staking yields
Sanctum solves two major pain points: illiquidity in LST markets and limited yield sources—making it a cornerstone of Solana’s next-gen DeFi infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I unstake my SOL at any time when using restaking?
A: Most restaking protocols allow withdrawals subject to unbonding periods (typically 1–3 epochs). However, LRTs like sSOL or ezSOL remain liquid and tradable immediately.
Q: Is restaking riskier than regular staking?
A: Yes—while returns are higher, risks include smart contract vulnerabilities, slashing across multiple AVSs, and varying liquidity conditions depending on the LRT provider.
Q: Do I still earn my base staking rewards with restaking?
A: Absolutely. Restaking builds on top of existing staking rewards—you retain your base yield while earning additional income from MEV, AVS fees, and incentives.
Q: Which restaking protocol offers the highest APY?
A: APY varies by platform and market conditions. As of now, protocols like Solayer (~8.15%) and Jito-partnered VRTs offer competitive returns with added airdrop potential.
Q: Can I use LRTs in DeFi applications?
A: Yes—most LRTs (e.g., ezSOL, sSOL) are compatible with lending platforms, DEXs, and yield aggregators across Solana’s DeFi ecosystem.
Q: How does swQoS improve user experience?
A: Stake-weighted QoS prioritizes transactions from highly staked accounts during congestion, ensuring faster confirmations for engaged participants—rewarding long-term commitment.
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Conclusion
Restaking is redefining capital efficiency in the Solana ecosystem. By enabling stakeholders to reuse their staked assets across multiple security layers and yield-generating opportunities, it amplifies both individual returns and network resilience. From pioneers like Solayer and Jito to cross-chain innovators like Picasso and modular builders like Cambrian, the landscape is rapidly evolving.
As adoption grows and infrastructure matures, restaking will play a pivotal role in scaling Solana’s capabilities—supporting complex dApps, enabling secure interop with other chains, and fostering a more dynamic economic model. For users and developers alike, this marks the beginning of a new era in decentralized finance: one where every staked dollar works harder than ever before.