What is Jito? Solana's Liquid Staking and MEV Network Explained

*Jito is a Solana protocol that combines liquid staking with MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) infrastructure, so that when you stake SOL you receive a liquid token called JitoSOL that earns ordinary staking rewards plus a share of MEV income.* In short, it tries to make staked SOL both more productive and still usable across the rest of the network.

What it is

Jito sits at the intersection of two ideas that are usually separate on other chains: liquid staking and MEV capture.

Liquid staking means you deposit SOL and get back a receipt token — here, JitoSOL — that represents your staked position. Unlike native staking, where your SOL is locked to a single validator and must go through an unstaking cooldown, JitoSOL is a tradable SPL token you can move, sell, or use in DeFi at any time while it keeps accruing rewards. If you are new to the concept, our explainer on what liquid staking is covers the mechanics.

The second half is MEV. On any blockchain, the order in which transactions are placed inside a block can be worth money — for example, capturing arbitrage between exchanges. Jito operates infrastructure (a block-building and bundle-auction system) that lets searchers bid for that transaction ordering in an organized way. The tips paid in those auctions flow partly back to validators and their stakers, rather than being extracted chaotically. Because JitoSOL is staked with validators running this software, its yield includes a slice of that MEV revenue.

What it is used for

People use Jito for a few distinct reasons:

• Earning staking yield without locking up SOL. You hold JitoSOL instead of native staked SOL, so you keep flexibility.
• Using staked value in DeFi. JitoSOL can be supplied as collateral or into liquidity pools on protocols like Kamino, Raydium, or lending markets — so your SOL earns staking rewards and can work a second time.
• Trading and swapping. Because it is liquid, JitoSOL can be swapped back to SOL through aggregators such as Jupiter without waiting for an unstaking period (subject to available on-chain liquidity).
• MEV infrastructure for validators and searchers. Beyond staking, Jito's software is a backbone that many Solana validators run to handle transaction ordering and reduce spam.

Jito is one of several liquid staking options on Solana; Marinade is another well-known choice, and each has different validator-selection and yield mechanics. Comparing them is worthwhile before committing.

The token

JTO is Jito's governance token. It is used to participate in the Jito DAO — voting on protocol parameters, fee settings, and how the ecosystem is run. Holding JitoSOL and holding JTO are two different things: JitoSOL is your staking receipt that earns yield, while JTO is a separate governance asset. Owning JTO is not required to stake SOL and receive JitoSOL.

Because token supply schedules, distribution, and any incentives can change over time, always confirm current details on the official source rather than trusting older summaries. You can read Jito's own documentation at jito.network.

How to get started

At a high level, using Jito looks like this:

1. Get SOL. If you do not hold any yet, see how to buy SOL.
2. Set up a wallet. A Solana wallet such as Phantom lets you connect to the Jito app.
3. Deposit SOL to receive JitoSOL. Through the official Jito staking interface, you swap SOL for JitoSOL. The exchange rate is not 1:1 — one JitoSOL is worth slightly more SOL over time as rewards accrue.
4. Hold or deploy. You can simply hold JitoSOL to earn, or supply it into DeFi. To unstake, you either swap JitoSOL back to SOL on the market or use the protocol's unstake route.

If you prefer native staking instead, our guides on how to stake SOL and how to choose a validator explain the alternative.

Risks & notes

This article is educational and not investment advice. Liquid staking and DeFi carry real risks:

• Price volatility. SOL, JitoSOL, and JTO can all lose value quickly. Rewards are variable, not guaranteed.
• Smart-contract risk. JitoSOL is governed by smart contracts; bugs or exploits could cause loss even if the protocol is audited.
• Liquidity / de-peg risk. In stress, JitoSOL could trade below its underlying SOL value, and swapping out may incur slippage.
• Self-custody. You are responsible for your seed phrase and private keys. Anyone with them controls your funds — no one can recover them for you.
• Scams. Fake "Jito" sites and token approvals are common. Only use the official domain and double-check URLs before connecting a wallet.
• Taxes. Staking rewards may be taxable; Japanese readers can start with our note on SOL staking tax in Japan.

Understanding how Solana itself works — see what is Solana — helps you judge these trade-offs before staking.

FAQ

Is JitoSOL the same as staked SOL? It represents staked SOL but is a separate liquid token. Its value versus SOL rises gradually as rewards accrue, rather than staying fixed at 1:1.

Do I need JTO to use Jito? No. JTO is a governance token. You can stake SOL and hold JitoSOL without ever owning JTO.

How is Jito different from native staking? Native staking locks SOL to a validator with an unstaking cooldown. Jito gives you a liquid token you can trade or use in DeFi immediately, and its yield includes a share of MEV tips.

Related: what is liquid staking · what is Marinade · how to stake SOL · what is Solana