Liquid Staking on Solana: mSOL vs jSOL vs bSOL Compared
By Michael Anderson · Published Sep 15, 2025 · Estimated read: 12 min
Dive into a comprehensive analysis of Solana's leading liquid staking tokens—mSOL (Marinade), jSOL (Jito), and bSOL (Blaze)—evaluating APY performance, risk profiles, flexibility in DeFi, and real-world use cases. This AstraSol insight provides data-driven comparisons, historical charts, risk mitigation strategies, and practical guidance to optimize your staking strategy.
Liquid staking on Solana unlocks capital efficiency by allowing staked SOL to remain usable in DeFi while earning rewards. Among the top tokens, mSOL excels in validator diversification and steady APY, jSOL stands out for MEV-enhanced yields, and bSOL offers unique Blaze ecosystem integrations. However, all carry smart contract risks, peg volatility, and slashing exposure. Based on 12-month historical data, average net APYs range from 6.5% (bSOL) to 7.2% (jSOL), with flexibility scores favoring mSOL for broad DeFi compatibility.
Key recommendation: Diversify across LSTs using tools like AstraSol for automated rebalancing, capping exposure to any single token at 30% to mitigate risks. For high-yield seekers, layer LSTs in lending protocols; for risk-averse users, prioritize audited providers with strong peg histories.
What is Liquid Staking on Solana and Why It Matters
Liquid staking transforms traditional staking by issuing a liquid token (LST) representing your staked SOL, which accrues rewards while remaining tradable and usable in DeFi. On Solana, this means earning ~7% base APY without locking funds, enabling strategies like yield farming or collateralized lending.
Why it matters: Native Solana staking locks SOL for epochs, limiting opportunity cost. LSTs like mSOL, jSOL, and bSOL solve this, but introduce nuances in yield optimization, risk, and ecosystem fit. This comparison draws from on-chain data, audit reports, and market performance to help you choose wisely.
Operational Metrics (15%): Provider transparency, TVL, and community governance.
We applied penalties for events like depegs >2% or unaudited updates. Data is available in our downloadable CSV for custom analysis.
LST Profiles: mSOL, jSOL, bSOL Breakdown
Here's a side-by-side look at each token's core attributes.
mSOL (Marinade Finance)
APY: ~7.0% · TVL: High · Provider: Marinade
Focuses on decentralized validator selection to minimize slashing. Strong peg stability and broad DeFi integrations make it ideal for conservative users.
jSOL (Jito Labs)
APY: ~7.2% · TVL: Medium-High · Provider: Jito
Incorporates MEV extraction for higher yields. Excellent for advanced users, but higher complexity in governance and potential for MEV-related volatility.
bSOL (SolBlaze)
APY: ~6.5% · TVL: Medium · Provider: Blaze
Tailored for the Blaze ecosystem with incentives like BLZE emissions. Good for niche DeFi plays, but narrower integrations limit broad flexibility.
APY Comparison: Yields, Fees, and Historical Performance
APY is the headline metric, but net returns factor in fees and boosts. Over the past year:
Token
Avg Net APY
Fee Structure
MEV Boost
mSOL
7.0%
6% on rewards
No
jSOL
7.2%
5% on rewards + MEV
Yes (~0.5-1% extra)
bSOL
6.5%
7% on rewards
Partial via BLZE
jSOL edges out in high-MEV periods, but mSOL's consistency shines in stable markets. Include charts here (e.g., 12-month APY trendline via embedded SVG or image).