Sanctum is the protocol that made Solana's liquid staking ecosystem actually work. Before Sanctum, each LST (JitoSOL, mSOL, bSOL, etc.) was an island — swapping between them meant slippage, fragmented liquidity, and friction. Sanctum unified them all into a single liquidity layer.
If you hold any liquid staking token on Solana or you're thinking about staking your SOL, understanding Sanctum is essential. This guide covers everything: how Sanctum works, how to swap LSTs, how to stake with specific validators, how to earn yield through the Infinity Pool, and how to get the most out of the platform in 2026.
What Is Sanctum?
Sanctum is Solana's LST infrastructure layer. It provides three core functions:
- Zero-slippage LST swaps: Trade any LST for any other LST (or SOL) without price impact
- Validator LSTs: Any validator can create their own liquid staking token
- Infinity Pool: A unified liquidity pool that backs all LST swaps and earns yield for depositors
Think of Sanctum as the connective tissue between all of Solana's liquid staking tokens. Without it, each LST would need its own deep liquidity pool. With Sanctum, they all share one massive pool.
How Sanctum's Architecture Works
The Problem Sanctum Solves
Before Sanctum, swapping between LSTs was painful:
- JitoSOL → mSOL required finding a DEX pool with both tokens and enough liquidity
- Large swaps had significant slippage because LST/LST pools were thin
- New LSTs couldn't gain traction because they had no liquidity — a chicken-and-egg problem
- Each new LST needed to bootstrap its own liquidity pools across multiple DEXes
This fragmentation meant that in practice, most users picked one LST and stuck with it, even if a better option existed.
How Sanctum Fixes It: The Reserve and Infinity Pool
Sanctum uses a reserve pool of SOL that acts as a universal intermediary. When you swap JitoSOL for mSOL, you're not trading directly:
- JitoSOL is unstaked → SOL goes into Sanctum's reserve
- SOL from the reserve is used to mint mSOL
- You receive mSOL
Because all LSTs are ultimately backed by staked SOL, and Sanctum holds a reserve of liquid SOL, any LST can be converted to any other LST through this shared pool. The swap is priced at the fair value of each LST's underlying staked SOL — no market-based slippage.
The Infinity Pool (INF) extends this further. It's a pool that holds dozens of LSTs simultaneously, providing liquidity for all swaps and earning staking yield from every LST it holds.
How to Use Sanctum: Swapping LSTs
Step 1: Connect Your Wallet
Go to sanctum.so and connect your Phantom or Solflare wallet.
Step 2: Choose Your Swap
On the main Sanctum interface, you'll see a swap panel. Select:
- From: The token you want to sell (SOL, JitoSOL, mSOL, JupSOL, or any supported LST)
- To: The token you want to receive
Step 3: Enter Amount and Confirm
Enter the amount. Sanctum shows you:
- The exchange rate (based on each LST's underlying SOL value)
- Any fees (typically minimal — Sanctum charges a small swap fee)
- The expected output
Click swap and confirm in your wallet.
What Makes Sanctum Swaps Special
- Zero slippage: You always get the fair-value rate, regardless of swap size. A 10 SOL swap and a 10,000 SOL swap get the same rate
- No price impact: Unlike DEX pools where large trades move the price, Sanctum's reserve-based system maintains stable rates
- Any LST to any LST: You're not limited to specific pairs. Any supported LST can be swapped for any other
- SOL ↔ LST: You can also mint any LST from SOL or redeem any LST back to SOL
When to Use Sanctum vs. a DEX
| Scenario | Use Sanctum | Use DEX (Jupiter) |
|---|
| LST → LST swap | Always (zero slippage) | Only if Sanctum is unavailable |
| SOL → LST (minting) | Best rate for most LSTs | May route through Sanctum anyway |
| LST → SOL (instant) | Best rate, instant | Similar rates for major LSTs |
| Large swaps (>1000 SOL) | Always (no price impact) | Slippage on large orders |
| Small swaps (under 10 SOL) | Either works | Either works |
Jupiter often routes LST swaps through Sanctum automatically, so even if you use Jupiter's interface, you may be using Sanctum's liquidity.
How to Stake With Sanctum
Staking SOL for Any LST
Sanctum lets you stake SOL and receive any supported LST in a single transaction:
- Go to the "Stake" section on Sanctum
- Choose which LST you want (JitoSOL, mSOL, JupSOL, or dozens of validator-specific LSTs)
- Enter your SOL amount
- Confirm — you receive the LST immediately
This is often the most efficient way to get any LST, since Sanctum's rates are competitive with going directly to each protocol.
Validator-Specific LSTs
This is where Sanctum gets interesting. Beyond the major LSTs, Sanctum enables any validator to create their own liquid staking token. These validator LSTs (sometimes called "vLSTs") let you:
- Support a specific validator you believe in
- Earn that validator's specific yield (which may be higher or lower than aggregate LSTs)
- Still have a liquid, tradeable token
Examples of validator LSTs on Sanctum:
- JupSOL: Jupiter's validator (0% commission, Jito-enabled)
- compassSOL: Compass validator
- dSOL: Drift's validator
- bonkSOL: BONK community validator
- And many more
Each validator LST has its own yield profile based on the validator's commission and performance. You can compare them on Sanctum's interface or on StakeWiz.
Choosing a Validator LST
When picking a validator-specific LST, consider:
| Factor | What to Check |
|---|
| Commission | Lower commission = more yield passes to you. Check on StakeWiz |
| Performance | Uptime, skip rate, actual APY history |
| MEV sharing | Does the validator run Jito and share MEV rewards? |
| Liquidity | Can you easily swap this LST via Sanctum or DEXes? |
| Incentives | Some validator LSTs offer additional token rewards |
The Infinity Pool (INF): Earning Yield
What Is the Infinity Pool?
The Infinity Pool is Sanctum's master liquidity pool that holds a diversified basket of LSTs. When you deposit into the Infinity Pool, you receive INF tokens representing your share.
Your INF tokens earn yield from:
- Staking rewards from every LST in the pool (weighted average of all LST yields)
- Swap fees when users swap through Sanctum (a portion of fees goes to INF holders)
- CLOUD rewards (Sanctum's governance token, during incentive periods)
How to Deposit Into the Infinity Pool
- Go to the Infinity Pool section on Sanctum
- Deposit SOL or any supported LST
- Receive INF tokens
- Hold INF — it automatically appreciates as yield accrues
INF Yield Breakdown
| Source | Approximate Contribution |
|---|
| Underlying LST staking yield | ~7-8% APY |
| Swap fees | ~0.5-1% APY (varies with volume) |
| CLOUD rewards | Variable (when active) |
| Total | ~8-10% APY |
The beauty of INF is diversification. Instead of being exposed to a single LST protocol, your yield comes from a basket of LSTs. If one LST has a bad epoch, others compensate.
INF in DeFi
INF tokens can be used across Solana DeFi:
- Lending collateral: Accepted on Marginfi and Kamino
- Liquidity pools: INF/SOL pairs available on Orca and Meteora
- Yield stacking: Deposit INF on a lending protocol to earn staking yield + lending interest simultaneously
CLOUD: Sanctum's Governance Token
What Is CLOUD?
CLOUD is Sanctum's governance token. It's used for:
- Governance voting: Directing protocol parameters, fee structures, and pool allocations
- Incentive programs: CLOUD rewards for Infinity Pool depositors and liquidity providers
- Ecosystem alignment: Validators and LST creators can incentivize their LSTs with CLOUD
How to Earn CLOUD
- Deposit into the Infinity Pool: CLOUD rewards are periodically distributed to INF holders
- Provide liquidity: LST liquidity providers on supported DEXes may earn CLOUD
- Sanctum campaigns: Periodic incentive campaigns (check Sanctum's announcements)
CLOUD Staking
CLOUD can be staked on Sanctum for additional yield and governance power. Staked CLOUD earns a share of protocol revenue.
Advanced Strategies With Sanctum
Strategy 1: LST Arbitrage Detection
Because each LST has a slightly different yield profile, their exchange rates against SOL fluctuate slightly. Sanctum normalizes these rates, but on DEXes, temporary mispricings occur.
How to spot opportunities:
- Compare the DEX price of an LST (on Jupiter or Birdeye) to its fair value (on Sanctum)
- If the DEX price is below fair value, buy the LST on the DEX and redeem on Sanctum
- If the DEX price is above fair value, mint on Sanctum and sell on the DEX
These opportunities are small and fleeting — bots capture most of them. But during high-volatility events, manual arbitrage is sometimes possible.
Strategy 2: Validator Yield Shopping
Different validator LSTs have different yields. Sanctum makes it easy to switch:
- Check yields across validator LSTs on Sanctum's dashboard
- If your current LST's yield drops (validator increases commission, poor performance), swap to a higher-yield validator LST
- Zero-slippage swap means no cost to switch
This is something you can't do with native staking without waiting an epoch to unstake and re-delegate.
Strategy 3: INF + Lending Stack
- Deposit SOL into the Infinity Pool → receive INF (~8-10% APY)
- Deposit INF on Marginfi or Kamino (~2-4% lending APY)
- Total: ~10-14% APY on your SOL with diversified LST exposure
Strategy 4: Support Small Validators Without Losing Liquidity
- Find a small, high-performing validator you want to support (use StakeWiz)
- Check if they have a Sanctum LST
- Stake SOL → validator LST on Sanctum
- Use the validator LST in DeFi (lending, LP) just like any major LST
- Your stake supports the specific validator while you retain full liquidity
This is the best way to contribute to network decentralization without sacrificing DeFi composability.
Sanctum vs. Staking Directly
| Feature | Sanctum | Direct Staking (Jito/Marinade) |
|---|
| LST options | Dozens (any validator) | One per protocol |
| Swap between LSTs | Zero slippage, instant | Need DEX swap (slippage) |
| Validator choice | You pick any validator | Protocol picks for you |
| Yield | Varies by LST choice | Protocol-managed |
| Infinity Pool | Diversified basket yield | N/A |
| Governance | CLOUD token | JTO (Jito), MNDE (Marinade) |
When to Use Sanctum
- You want to support a specific validator with a liquid token
- You need to swap between LSTs efficiently
- You want diversified LST exposure through the Infinity Pool
- You want CLOUD governance rewards
When to Go Direct
- You want the simplest experience (one-click staking on Jito or Marinade)
- You specifically want JitoSOL for its MEV yield premium
- You prefer Marinade's decentralization-optimized validator algorithm
Common Questions
Is Sanctum safe?
Sanctum has been audited and is one of the most widely used protocols in Solana's staking infrastructure. Jupiter routes through Sanctum for LST swaps, which is a strong endorsement of its reliability. That said, all DeFi protocols carry smart contract risk — never stake more than you can afford to have at risk.
Does Sanctum charge fees?
Sanctum charges a small fee on swaps (typically under 0.1%). The Infinity Pool has no deposit or withdrawal fees. Individual LSTs may have their own fee structures (set by the validator or protocol).
Can I unstake instantly?
Yes. Any LST held through Sanctum can be swapped back to SOL instantly via Sanctum's swap or the Infinity Pool. No epoch wait time.
What happens if a validator LST's validator goes down?
If the underlying validator goes offline, the LST stops accruing rewards during the downtime. You can instantly swap to a different LST through Sanctum with zero slippage — this is actually one of Sanctum's biggest advantages over native staking, where you'd need to wait an epoch to redelegate.
How does INF compare to holding JitoSOL?
INF holds a basket of LSTs (including JitoSOL), so its yield is a weighted average. JitoSOL may have slightly higher yield in active MEV markets, but INF offers diversification — if any single LST has issues, your exposure is limited. INF also earns swap fees on top of staking yield.
Can I use Sanctum on mobile?
Yes. Sanctum's web interface works on mobile browsers. Connect via Phantom or Solflare mobile wallets.
Getting Started: Your First 5 Minutes on Sanctum
- Go to sanctum.so and connect your wallet
- Explore LSTs: Browse the available liquid staking tokens. Note the yields, validator backing, and TVL for each
- Try a swap: If you already hold an LST, try swapping it for another to see the zero-slippage experience
- Stake SOL: If you have unstaked SOL, pick an LST that matches your priorities (yield, decentralization, validator support)
- Consider the Infinity Pool: If you want diversified exposure, deposit into INF
For tracking your positions, Step Finance supports Sanctum LSTs and INF in portfolio views.
The Bigger Picture: Why Sanctum Matters
Sanctum solved a coordination problem. Before it, Solana's LST ecosystem was fragmented — each protocol competing for liquidity, each LST struggling to gain DeFi integrations, and users locked into whichever LST they first chose.
Now, any validator can have a liquid staking token. Any user can swap between them freely. And the Infinity Pool provides a unified yield layer that benefits from the entire ecosystem's scale.
For Solana's staking landscape, this means:
- More competition: Validators compete on yield and service quality, knowing delegators can switch instantly
- Better decentralization: Small validators can offer LSTs without needing to bootstrap their own liquidity
- More innovation: New staking strategies and products can be built on Sanctum's infrastructure
Whether you're a passive staker looking for the best yield or an active DeFi user stacking strategies, Sanctum is a protocol worth understanding. It's the infrastructure that makes Solana's liquid staking ecosystem the most advanced in crypto.
Disclaimer: Yields and token values mentioned are approximate and fluctuate based on market conditions. DeFi protocols carry smart contract risk. CLOUD token value is subject to market volatility. This guide is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always do your own research.
