What is Marinade Staked SOL?

Marinade Staked SOL (MSOL) is a product of Marinade.finance, a liquid staking protocol built on the Solana blockchain. MSOL is a tokenized representation of staked SOL tokens within the Marinade ecosystem. Users stake their SOL tokens with Marinade, which employs automated staking strategies to delegate the SOL to validators. In return, users receive MSOL tokens that they can utilize within the decentralized finance (DeFi) space or swap back to original SOL tokens at any time. The protocol aims to enhance the utility of SOL tokens by allowing them to be staked and used simultaneously, thereby contributing to the security and decentralization of the Solana network.

How does Marinade Staked SOL work?

Marinade Staked SOL operates through a process known as liquid staking. Users stake their SOL tokens with Marinade, which then delegates these tokens to a pool of high-performing Solana validators using an automated staking strategy. In return, users receive an equivalent value of MSOL tokens. The price of MSOL increases relative to SOL with each Solana epoch as inflation rewards are accrued into the underlying staked SOL in the Marinade stake pool. Users can withdraw their SOL by unstaking and waiting for the unlock period or, if liquid staking, immediately with a small fee. MSOL tokens can also be exchanged directly for SOL on secondary markets at the current market rate.

What are the potential use cases for Marinade Staked SOL?

Marinade Staked SOL (MSOL) seeks to provide users with the ability to participate in the DeFi space while simultaneously staking their SOL tokens. This dual functionality aims to increase the utility and flexibility of SOL tokens. Users can stake their SOL tokens in exchange for MSOL, which can then be used in various DeFi applications. Additionally, MSOL holders can participate in the Marinade DAO governance, influencing the future direction of the protocol. MSOL tokens can also be exchanged directly for SOL on secondary markets, providing additional liquidity options for users.

What is the history of Marinade Staked SOL?

Marinade.finance, the protocol behind Marinade Staked SOL (MSOL), was founded through Solana ecosystem grants at the Solana Hackathon in 2021. The protocol launched its liquid staking protocol and the MSOL liquid staking token on the mainnet in August of the same year. The MNDE governance token was minted on November 7, 2021, as a fair-launch token with no Initial Coin Offering (ICO). In April 2022, Marinade launched on-chain DAO governance, and since then, all decisions related to the treasury have been voted on chain. In July 2023, the DAO migrated its governance platform to Realms, enabling direct control of the treasury and protocol decisions by MNDE holders.