Restaking is one of the most significant DeFi primitives to hit Solana. It takes capital that's already earning staking yield and puts it to work a second time — securing additional networks, oracles, bridges, and other infrastructure without requiring new capital or new validators.
If you've been following Ethereum's restaking narrative through EigenLayer, Solana's version is now mature enough to deserve serious attention. Jito, Solayer, and Fragmetric are the three protocols leading the charge, each with a distinct architecture and risk profile.
This guide breaks down what restaking actually is, how it differs from the liquid staking you already know, and which protocol makes sense for different types of users.
What Is Restaking?
At its core, restaking means taking staked assets — SOL that's already delegated to validators and earning ~7% APY — and pledging that same economic security to additional services.
Think of it like this: a validator secures the Solana network with staked SOL. Restaking lets that same SOL simultaneously secure an oracle network, a bridge, a data availability layer, or any other system that needs economic guarantees. The staked SOL doesn't move. It just does double duty.
Why Restaking Matters
Without restaking, every new decentralized service that needs security has to bootstrap its own validator set and convince people to lock capital specifically for that service. This is expensive, slow, and fragments security across the ecosystem.
Restaking solves this by pooling Solana's existing security. New services can tap into billions of dollars of staked SOL without competing for new capital. Restakers earn additional yield on top of their staking rewards. Services get battle-tested security from day one.
The result is a more capital-efficient ecosystem where security is shared, not siloed.
Restaking vs. Liquid Staking: Key Differences
If you're using JitoSOL, mSOL, or JupSOL, you're already liquid staking. Restaking is a layer on top of that. Here's how they differ:
| Liquid Staking | Restaking |
|---|
| What you stake | Native SOL | LSTs (JitoSOL, mSOL, etc.) or SOL |
| What you secure | Solana consensus only | Additional services (oracles, bridges, rollups) |
| Yield source | Validator staking rewards | Staking rewards + service fees |
| Risk | Validator slashing, smart contract risk | All of the above + slashing from additional services |
| Liquidity | Receive LST, use in DeFi | Depends on protocol — some issue liquid restaking tokens (LRTs) |
| Complexity | Low | Medium to high |
The key insight: restaking doesn't replace liquid staking. It extends it. You can hold JitoSOL, restake it through Solayer, and earn staking yield plus restaking yield simultaneously.
The Three Major Solana Restaking Protocols
Jito Restaking (NCN)
Jito — the same team behind JitoSOL and Jito-Solana's MEV client — launched its restaking platform around the concept of Node Consensus Networks (NCNs).
How it works:
An NCN is any off-chain service that needs decentralized consensus. Think price oracles, keeper networks, cross-chain messaging, or transaction ordering services. Each NCN defines its own rules for what operators must do and what gets them slashed.
Restakers deposit SOL or LSTs into Jito's restaking vaults. Operators — entities running the actual NCN software — draw from this pooled security. When an NCN generates revenue (fees for oracle updates, bridge transfers, etc.), that revenue flows back to restakers proportional to their contribution.
Architecture highlights:
- Vault Program: Holds restaked assets with configurable delegation strategies
- Restaking Program: Manages operator registration and NCN relationships
- Slashing conditions: Each NCN defines its own, enforced by Jito's smart contracts
- No lock-up required: Withdrawals follow a cooldown period (typically 1-2 epochs)
Current NCNs include Jito's own tip distribution network, several oracle services, and keeper networks for DeFi protocol liquidations.
TVL and yield: Jito Restaking has accumulated significant TVL since launch, benefiting from the existing JitoSOL user base. Yields vary by NCN — some offer 2-4% additional APY on top of base staking, while early-stage NCNs may offer token incentives.
Best for: Users already holding JitoSOL who want incremental yield without changing their existing setup.
Solayer (endoAVS)
Solayer takes a different architectural approach with its endogenous Actively Validated Services (endoAVS) model. While Jito focuses on external consensus networks, Solayer is designed to secure services that are native to the Solana ecosystem.
How it works:
Solayer accepts SOL and major LSTs, then delegates them to endoAVS operators. The "endogenous" distinction matters: these services run within or closely alongside Solana's own infrastructure, which creates tighter integration and potentially lower latency.
Delegators stake their assets to specific AVS operators through Solayer's delegation manager. Each AVS has its own yield profile based on the fees it generates. Solayer handles the accounting, slashing enforcement, and reward distribution.
Architecture highlights:
- Delegation Manager: Routes restaked assets to operators based on user preferences
- endoAVS Registry: Curated list of validated services available for restaking
- sSOL: Solayer's liquid restaking token that represents your restaked position
- Dual staking: Supports staking both SOL and LSTs simultaneously to the same AVS
What makes Solayer different:
Solayer's focus on Solana-native services means it can offer deeper integration with the network's transaction processing. Some AVS operators can provide transaction quality-of-service guarantees — prioritizing transactions from restakers, for example — which creates an additional incentive beyond pure yield.
TVL and yield: Solayer has grown rapidly, partly driven by early point incentive programs. Base restaking yields plus AVS rewards can combine for meaningful returns, though exact figures depend heavily on which AVS you're delegating to.
Best for: Users who want exposure to Solana-native infrastructure services and value the liquid restaking token (sSOL) for DeFi composability.
Fragmetric positions itself as a liquid restaking token (LRT) protocol, emphasizing the composability and DeFi-readiness of its restaking positions.
How it works:
You deposit SOL or LSTs into Fragmetric and receive fragSOL, a liquid restaking token that accrues both staking and restaking yield. Fragmetric's smart contracts handle operator selection, risk management, and yield optimization across multiple restaking services.
Architecture highlights:
- fragSOL: The core LRT — holds it in your wallet, use it in DeFi, swap it on DEXes
- Risk-adjusted delegation: Fragmetric's strategy layer diversifies across operators and services to reduce concentration risk
- Auto-compounding: Rewards are automatically reinvested, reflected in fragSOL's rising exchange rate
- DeFi integrations: fragSOL is accepted as collateral across multiple Solana lending and LP platforms
What makes Fragmetric different:
Where Jito and Solayer give you granular control over which NCNs or AVS operators receive your stake, Fragmetric abstracts this away. You hold fragSOL, and the protocol manages the rest. This is closer to a "set and forget" restaking experience.
Fragmetric also emphasizes risk management more explicitly. Its strategy layer evaluates operator track records, diversifies across multiple services, and maintains reserve buffers to ensure fragSOL remains liquid even during volatile periods.
TVL and yield: As the newest of the three, Fragmetric is still scaling but has shown strong growth. The combined yield from staking + diversified restaking typically ranges from 8-12% APY depending on market conditions.
Best for: Users who want restaking exposure without managing individual operator or NCN selections — and who value having a liquid, DeFi-composable token.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Jito (NCN) | Solayer (endoAVS) | Fragmetric (fragSOL) |
|---|
| Restaking model | Node Consensus Networks | Endogenous AVS | Liquid Restaking Token |
| Accepted assets | SOL, JitoSOL, LSTs | SOL, LSTs | SOL, LSTs |
| Liquid token | Vault receipts | sSOL | fragSOL |
| Operator selection | User chooses NCN | User chooses AVS operator | Protocol manages |
| Slashing risk | Per-NCN, user-evaluated | Per-AVS, user-evaluated | Diversified by protocol |
| DeFi composability | Limited (vault-based) | Medium (sSOL) | High (fragSOL) |
| Complexity | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Yield range | Base staking + 2-4% | Base staking + variable | 8-12% combined |
| Unique advantage | Jito ecosystem synergy | Solana-native QoS | Set-and-forget simplicity |
Risks You Must Understand
Restaking is not free yield. It introduces additional risk layers on top of standard staking:
Smart Contract Risk
Every restaking protocol adds smart contract surface area. Jito, Solayer, and Fragmetric have all undergone audits, but restaking contracts are newer and less battle-tested than simple staking programs.
Slashing Risk
When your restaked SOL secures an NCN or AVS, you're subject to that service's slashing conditions. If an operator misbehaves — submitting wrong data, going offline, acting maliciously — your restaked capital can be partially slashed.
Each protocol handles this differently:
- Jito: You evaluate and accept slashing risk per NCN
- Solayer: Similar per-AVS risk assessment
- Fragmetric: Protocol diversifies to minimize any single slashing event's impact
Liquidity Risk
While liquid restaking tokens (sSOL, fragSOL) can theoretically be swapped anytime, their liquidity depends on DEX pools. During market stress, these tokens can trade at a discount to their underlying value.
Correlation Risk
If you're restaking JitoSOL (which is already staked SOL), you have layered exposure: Solana validator risk, JitoSOL smart contract risk, and restaking protocol risk. A failure at any layer affects you.
Operator Risk
Restaking delegates your security to operators who run actual software. If an operator is poorly managed, undercapitalized, or runs unreliable infrastructure, your yield suffers and slashing risk increases.
Which Protocol Should You Choose?
Choose Jito if:
- You already hold JitoSOL and want to maximize its yield
- You want to pick specific NCNs and understand each one's risk/reward
- You value the Jito ecosystem's track record and deep Solana integration
Choose Solayer if:
- You want exposure to Solana-native infrastructure services
- Transaction priority or quality-of-service features appeal to you
- You want a liquid restaking token (sSOL) but also some control over operator delegation
Choose Fragmetric if:
- You want restaking exposure with minimal active management
- DeFi composability matters — you plan to use your restaked position as collateral or in LPs
- You prefer diversified risk over concentrated bets on specific services
Or use Sanctum to explore and compare LSTs before deciding on a restaking layer. Sanctum's LST hub lets you swap between liquid staking tokens with minimal slippage, making it easy to move between base LSTs and restaking positions.
Getting Started With Restaking
Regardless of which protocol you choose, the basic flow is similar:
- Acquire SOL or an LST — If you don't already hold JitoSOL, mSOL, or similar, swap SOL for one on Jupiter or stake directly through the LST protocol
- Connect your wallet — Visit the restaking protocol's app and connect Phantom or your preferred wallet
- Deposit and delegate — Choose your deposit amount, select operators or NCNs (or let the protocol handle it), and confirm the transaction
- Monitor your position — Check yields, operator performance, and any changes to slashing conditions periodically
- Use your LRT in DeFi — If you received sSOL or fragSOL, explore lending, LP, or collateral opportunities to stack additional yield
The Bigger Picture
Restaking is still early on Solana compared to Ethereum's EigenLayer ecosystem, but it's maturing quickly. As more NCNs and AVS services launch, the yield opportunities and security benefits will compound.
The most important thing is to understand what you're opting into. Restaking is not a risk-free yield upgrade — it's an active decision to extend your capital's security guarantees to additional services in exchange for additional rewards. Choose your protocol based on how much complexity you want to manage, how much risk you're comfortable with, and how you plan to use your restaked position.
For most users new to restaking, starting with a small allocation through Fragmetric's managed approach makes sense. As you build understanding, you can diversify across protocols or take more targeted positions through Jito or Solayer's operator-specific delegations.
The Solana restaking ecosystem is growing fast. Getting familiar with these protocols now positions you to benefit as the category matures throughout 2026 and beyond.
