$50M Injection: a16z Invests in Solana Staking Platform Jito

a16z Invests $50M in Solana Staking Protocol Jito

Jito Foundation, the protocol powering Solana (SOL), has raised $50 million in a private token sale led by Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z crypto, the foundation announced Thursday.

The funding will support the expansion of Jito Network’s validator technology, enhance developer tools, and advance liquid staking solutions tailored to Solana’s high-speed architecture. Following the news, JITO rose roughly 4%, trading at $1.17 at press time.

Jito’s Key Products

At the heart of Jito’s ecosystem are two main offerings: a validator client optimized for Solana’s network and JitoSOL, a liquid staking token with a market capitalization exceeding $3.2 billion. These tools allow Solana users to earn staking rewards while facilitating fast and low-cost transactions.

With support from a16z, one of crypto’s largest venture firms and an early Solana backer, Jito plans to scale its open-source tooling, attract new developers, and expand globally. The protocol also aims to build on its recent Block Assembly Marketplace (BAM) launch from September.

“This isn’t just about scaling,” said Brian Smith, president of Jito Foundation. “It’s about helping everyone on Solana extract more value while making the network more transparent and programmable.”

Bridging Crypto With Traditional Finance

The funding comes shortly after a proposed VanEck JitoSOL ETF was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in August. If approved, it would offer traditional investors regulated exposure to staking yields from JitoSOL, marking a step toward integrating Solana-native products into conventional finance.

“Jito is catalyzing growth for the entire Solana ecosystem,” said Ali Yahya, general partner at a16z crypto, highlighting the protocol’s role in building foundational tools like BAM and supporting Solana’s next phase of adoption.