TL;DR
Jito is Solana’s leading MEV infrastructure provider, offering a modified validator client that accepts transaction bundles with tips for guaranteed inclusion and ordering.
Jito runs a modified Solana validator client (Jito-Solana) that processes transaction bundles. Traders submit bundles of transactions with a tip (in SOL) to Jito’s block engine. The block engine forwards bundles to Jito validators, who include them in blocks with guaranteed ordering. This is how snipers, arbitrage bots, and MEV searchers ensure their transactions land with precise timing.
Jito also runs a liquid staking protocol. When you stake SOL through Jito, you receive jitoSOL. What makes jitoSOL unique: it earns both regular staking rewards AND MEV rewards from Jito validators processing tips. This typically gives jitoSOL a higher yield than other LSTs. jitoSOL can be used across Solana DeFi just like mSOL or bSOL.
Nearly every Solana trading bot uses Jito bundles for critical transactions. Without Jito tips, your transactions compete in the standard fee market and may land in suboptimal positions. With Jito tips, you can guarantee execution order — essential for sniping, sandwich protection (by bundling your swap with anti-sandwich transactions), and any strategy where timing matters. Jito tips are the “fast lane” fee of Solana.