Staking · Review
ActiveMarinade Liquid Staking Review 2026: Solana Auction Staking
Marinade is a Solana staking protocol offering both native delegation and liquid staking through mSOL, with an auction that has validators bid for stake. It holds about $215 million in TVL and suits SOL holders who want automated validator selection.
By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated
DappsAtlas score
8.0/10
Excellent
Our verdict on Marinade Liquid Staking
8.0/10Marinade suits Solana holders who want automated validator selection and the choice between native staking and liquid mSOL. Its main strength is the auction marketplace plus a bond mechanism designed to keep rewards steady, backed by sizeable TVL and listed audits. The main caveat is that yield is variable, fees are not clearly stated publicly reviewed, and liquid staking and the USDC strategy add smart-contract risk. Check live APY and fees in the app first.
Score breakdown
How Marinade Liquid Staking scores
- Security
- 7.5/10
- Ease of use
- 8.0/10
- Fees
- n/a
- Features
- n/a
Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.
What is Marinade Liquid Staking?
Marinade is a staking protocol built for Solana. DefiLlama lists it under liquid staking with about $215 million in TVL, an MNDE governance token and two listed audits. Its homepage describes native and liquid Solana staking aimed at both individuals and institutions.
The main idea is automated delegation. Rather than choosing validators yourself, you delegate through Marinade, which spreads stake across validators using an auction where they bid for it. A second option, Marinade Select, restricts delegation to a curated set of verified validators.
Beyond SOL, Marinade has added an Earn on USDC strategy that supplies liquidity to Kamino Lend. The homepage also cites more than 150K total holders and custodian access through BitGo, Anchorage, Zodia Custody and Copper.
How Marinade Liquid Staking works
Marinade takes SOL from stakers and delegates it to Solana validators. Instead of picking validators by hand, users rely on Marinade's automated delegation, which seeks high-performing validators.
The Stake Auction Marketplace is the core mechanism. Validators bid for delegated stake each epoch, which the homepage says lets them share more rewards, including priority fees. A validator's bond is meant to absorb losses if it underperforms or raises fees.
Users pick between native staking, where SOL is delegated and stays in their wallet, and liquid staking, where they receive mSOL. mSOL is a token representing staked SOL that can be used in other DeFi apps while it continues to earn rewards.
8 features
Key features
01
Stake Auction Marketplace
Validators bid for staked SOL in an open marketplace every epoch, with the aim of passing more rewards, including priority fees, to stakers.
02
Native and liquid staking
Users can stake natively with funds staying in their wallet, or take mSOL to use in DeFi.
03
Validator strategies
Marinade Max Yield delegates to 100+ bidding validators, while Marinade Select uses a curated set of verified validators with strong performance.
04
Protected staking rewards
The homepage says a validator's bond absorbs losses if it underperforms or raises fees, keeping rewards steadier.
05
Instant unstake
Users can withdraw SOL from any validator without holding a liquid staking token.
06
Staking Rewards Report
An exportable summary of staking rewards and activity for audits and tax reporting, plus tracking of positions beyond Marinade.
07
Earn on USDC
Deposit USDC to provide liquidity to Kamino Lend and earn yield on-chain, with withdrawals described as available anytime.
08
Institutional custody access
Marinade lists BitGo, Anchorage, Zodia Custody and Copper as custodians, with white-label options for institutions.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Offers both native staking and liquid staking via mSOL
- Auction marketplace where validators bid for stake, aimed at higher rewards
- Bond mechanism is meant to protect stakers from validator underperformance or fee hikes
- Instant unstake without needing a liquid token
- Two audits listed on DefiLlama and an audits page on the site
- Institutional custodian integrations and a rewards report for tax and audit purposes
Watch out for
- Advertised yields (up to 8% APY on the homepage) vary and are not guaranteed
- Smart-contract risk still exists for mSOL, the liquid token, and for the USDC lending strategy that routes through Kamino Lend
- TVL fell 7.1% over the past seven days, a reminder that staking deposits can move quickly
- Concentrated on a single chain, so it is only useful to Solana holders
- The bid-based validator system and bond protection add complexity that newcomers must take on trust
- Fee levels are not stated publicly reviewed, so net returns are hard to calculate in advance
Marinade Liquid Staking fees
Fee levels are not given publicly reviewed. The homepage describes the Solana Staking Index as yield before any validator commission or protocol fees, which implies both can apply.
Users should check the Marinade app for the live APY, validator commissions and any protocol fee before staking. Standard Solana network transaction fees also apply to stake and unstake actions.
Is Marinade Liquid Staking safe?
DefiLlama lists two audits for Marinade, and the website has an Audits section for security and compliance reports. The homepage states that native staking carries no smart contract risk because SOL is delegated directly to validators and stays in the user's wallet. We have not reviewed the audit reports themselves here.
Liquid staking with mSOL does involve smart contracts, and the USDC strategy depends on Kamino Lend. Validator performance, slashing-style penalties, depegs of liquid tokens and governance decisions are all risks to weigh. Any past incidents are not covered publicly reviewed. This is not financial advice.
6 steps
How to get started with Marinade Liquid Staking
- 1
Get a Solana wallet and fund it with SOL.
- 2
Open the Marinade app and connect your wallet.
- 3
Choose a strategy: Max Yield, Marinade Select, or liquid staking into mSOL.
- 4
Review the displayed APY and any fees, then confirm the delegation transaction.
- 5
Track rewards in the app and download the Staking Rewards Report if you need records for tax purposes.
- 6
To exit, use Instant Unstake or follow the normal unstaking process, and check the terms shown at the time.
Who Marinade Liquid Staking is for
Marinade is for Solana holders who want to earn staking rewards without choosing validators one by one, DeFi users who want a liquid staking token like mSOL, and institutions that stake through supported custodians. It is less relevant to anyone who does not hold SOL.
Marinade Liquid Staking FAQs
What is Marinade Finance?
Marinade is a Solana staking service. It lets users delegate SOL to validators through an automated system, or hold the liquid staking token mSOL to use in DeFi while still earning staking rewards.
How much can you earn staking SOL with Marinade?
The homepage says users can earn up to 8% APY. Actual yield changes with the validator market and network conditions, and the live figure is shown on the Marinade site rather than fixed in advance.
Is Marinade native staking or liquid staking?
Marinade offers both. Native staking delegates SOL directly to validators while the funds stay in your wallet, and liquid staking gives you mSOL, which can be used elsewhere in DeFi.
Can I unstake SOL instantly?
The homepage lists an Instant Unstake feature that lets users access SOL from any validator without needing a liquid token. Details such as any cost for instant unstaking are not given publicly reviewed, so check the app before you unstake.
What is the MNDE token?
MNDE is the governance token tied to the MNDE DAO. The homepage links to governance resources including voting, a research forum and a governance process.
Is Marinade safe?
No staking protocol is risk-free. DefiLlama lists two audits for Marinade, and the homepage says the native staking route carries no smart contract risk. Liquid staking, validator performance and the USDC strategy each carry their own risks, so only stake what you can afford to have locked or exposed.
Compare
Marinade Liquid Staking alternatives
Jito Liquid Staking lets Solana users stake SOL for JitoSOL, a liquid token that accrues staking and MEV rewards.
Sanctum Validator LSTs are Solana liquid staking tokens from SanctumSPL stake pools, for SOL holders and teams launching custom LSTs.
Phantom SOL is the native and liquid SOL staking feature in the self-custodial Phantom wallet on Solana, for holders who want to stake in-app.
BlazeStake is a non-custodial Solana liquid staking protocol that issues bSOL, for SOL holders wanting staking yield and DeFi use.
JPool is a Solana liquid staking pool that issues JSOL and says it charges zero management fees, for SOL holders who want liquid staking and validator tools.
SSV Network is a distributed validator technology layer for Ethereum staking, used by exchanges, custodians, staking services and node operators.
Same category
More Staking dApps
ether.fi Stake is a non-custodial Ethereum liquid staking protocol with an app for earning, borrowing and spending, for ETH holders comfortable with DeFi risk.
Kinetiq is a non-custodial liquid staking protocol on Hyperliquid that turns staked HYPE into the yield-bearing kHYPE token for DeFi users.
Liquid Collective is a non-custodial Ethereum liquid staking protocol issuing LsETH, designed mainly for institutions and compliance-focused stakers.
Ankr is a Web3 infrastructure provider offering multichain RPC, rollup services and liquid staking for stakers, developers and enterprises.
Babylon is a Bitcoin collateral infrastructure project that lets holders stake native BTC or use it as collateral without wrapping or bridging.
mETH Protocol is a non-custodial ETH liquid staking protocol on Ethereum, governed by Mantle, for ETH holders who want yield and a liquid receipt token.
Same chain
More on Solana
Lido is a liquid staking protocol where users stake ETH and receive stETH, a reward-earning token usable across DeFi, governed by LDO holders.
OKX is a major centralized crypto exchange for spot and derivatives trading, earn products and a Web3 wallet, with its own OKB token.
LayerZero V2 is a cross-chain messaging protocol and bridge infrastructure for developers and asset issuers, connecting dozens of blockchains.
Across is an intent-based cross-chain bridge and swap protocol for moving tokens between Ethereum, rollups and other chains, with an API for apps.
Sablier Lockup is an audited onchain protocol for token vesting, payroll, grants and airdrops, aimed at DAOs and businesses across many chains.
Pyth Network is a first-party price oracle and market data provider for blockchain apps, trading venues and institutions, with its own PYTH token.
Guides
Guides that mention Marinade Liquid Staking
Airdrop and rewards
Best Apps to Earn Cryptocurrency in 2026The best way to earn crypto depends on what you hold, how much risk you can accept, and whether you want a simple custodial app or on-chain control. Compare six options, how their rewards work, and the risks to check before depositing.
DeFi
Best Crypto Staking Platforms in 2026The best crypto staking platform depends on what you want to stake, whether you need to keep your tokens liquid, and how much control you want over custody. Compare leading liquid-staking protocols and exchange apps by their trade-offs, not by headline reward rates.
DeFi
Best Cryptocurrencies for Staking in 2026There is no single best cryptocurrency to stake: the right choice depends on how much risk, lockup time and technical work you can accept. Compare five established proof-of-stake assets and learn what to check before delegating.
DeFi
How Coinbase Staking Works in 2026Coinbase staking lets eligible customers delegate supported crypto through a custodial account and receive network rewards, less any applicable Coinbase commission. Learn how to start, what affects rewards, how unstaking works, and the risks to weigh first.
DeFi
How Cryptocurrency Staking Works in 2026Crypto staking supports proof-of-stake networks by putting tokens behind validators that help confirm transactions. Learn how rewards, lockups and liquid staking work, and how to weigh the risks before choosing a method.
DeFi
What Does Staking Mean in Crypto? A 2026 GuideCrypto staking means committing eligible tokens to help secure a proof-of-stake blockchain, with rewards that can vary and risks that include lockups, slashing and price changes. Learn how staking works, how it differs from lending, and what to check before choosing a method.
How we checked
Sources
Last updated . Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.