Who should skip this?
Skip Marinade if you need slash-minimised native staking with a validator you picked, you wanted JitoSOL's MEV-inclusive yield, or you do not have a Solana wallet. mSOL is a token, not a bank deposit. Liquid staking adds smart-contract risk on top of validator risk.
- You do not have a Solana wallet or spare SOL for fees
- You want to pick a single validator yourself and accept the lockup
- You already decided you want JitoSOL rather than mSOL
Should you liquid-stake SOL with Marinade?
Yes, if you want staking rewards and you also want a token you can use in Kamino, Raydium or other Solana DeFi. Native staking locks SOL with a validator; mSOL stays transferable. That convenience is the product, and it is also the extra risk.
Choose JitoSOL instead when you specifically want MEV tips in the LST yield and you accept Jito's validator set. Choose native staking when you do not want another smart-contract on the stack. Marinade vs Jito is a real comparison, not a branding argument.
What is mSOL and how does Marinade work?
You deposit SOL; Marinade stakes across a validator set and mints mSOL. Rewards increase the mSOL:SOL rate rather than paying a separate coupon you must claim. Official app: marinade.finance (checked August 2026). Verify the URL; LST mint-address mix-ups are a common Solana scam pattern.
Instant unstake uses liquidity and charges a fee. Native unstake waits for Solana's deactivation / cooldown (typically a couple of epochs). If you might need SOL this afternoon, check the instant-unstake fee before you deposit, or keep a SOL buffer outside Marinade.
| Marinade (mSOL) | JitoSOL | Native stake | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield source | Staking rewards | Staking + MEV tips | Staking to your validator |
| Liquidity | mSOL is a token | JitoSOL is a token | Locked until undelegate |
| Extra risk | Marinade contracts + LST DeFi | Jito contracts + LST DeFi | Validator / lockup |
| Skip when | You wanted MEV-boosted LST | You wanted Marinade's set | You need a liquid token |
How do you stake and unstake?
Deposit only SOL you can leave in an LST. Using mSOL as collateral on Kamino is a second decision with liquidation risk — it is not part of 'staking'.
- 01
Connect a Solana wallet
Phantom, Backpack or Solflare at marinade.finance. Keep SOL for transaction fees.
- 02
Deposit SOL
Enter an amount, confirm, receive mSOL. The wallet should show the official mSOL mint — compare with Marinade's docs if unsure.
- 03
Hold or use in DeFi
Holding mSOL is enough to accrue the rate. Supplying mSOL as collateral is optional and can be liquidated. Do not loop until you understand the lending market.
- 04
Unstake
Instant unstake if you need SOL now and accept the fee. Native unstake if you can wait epochs and want to avoid that fee.
The verdict: should you use Marinade?
Yes, as a default Solana LST if you want liquidity and you accept protocol risk. No, if native staking matches your patience, or if you have already chosen Jito for MEV-inclusive yield. Do not pick Marinade because a dashboard showed a higher APY this morning — LST rates move, and DeFi use of mSOL is a separate risk layer.
Read Marinade vs Jito before moving size. For SOL perps, that is Drift or Hyperliquid, not an LST.
Frequently asked questions
mSOL vs JitoSOL?
Both are Solana liquid staking tokens. mSOL earns staking rewards through Marinade's validator set. JitoSOL adds MEV tips and often shows a higher yield for that reason. Compare current rates, validator sets and DeFi integrations — see our Marinade vs Jito comparison.
Is mSOL safe?
Marinade has operated since 2021. Risks remain: smart-contract bugs, validator performance, and extra risk if you use mSOL in lending or LPs. There is no deposit insurance.
Why is instant unstake charged a fee?
Someone else is providing SOL liquidity so you can exit without waiting for native deactivation. The fee pays for that liquidity. Native unstake avoids it and takes longer.
Does mSOL rebase?
Marinade uses an appreciating exchange rate: mSOL balances in your wallet typically stay constant while each mSOL becomes worth more SOL over time. Check the live rate in the app, not a screenshot.