Solayer is Solana’s native restaking protocol, enabling users to restake SOL tokens to secure additional decentralized applications while earning yield. With $150M+ TVL, sUSD backed by US Treasury Bills, and InfiniSVM targeting 1M TPS, Solayer is reshaping Solana’s security and scalability landscape.
Solayer is Solana’s native restaking protocol, designed to allow users to restake SOL tokens to secure additional decentralized applications (AVS — Actively Validated Services) beyond the base Solana network. It’s essentially Solana’s answer to EigenLayer on Ethereum, bringing restaking economics to the Solana ecosystem.
The protocol enables a new security model where validators and stakers can opt into validating additional applications. This creates a composable security layer where multiple services can share validator infrastructure, reducing fragmentation and improving capital efficiency across the Solana ecosystem.
Restaking allows users to take their SOL (or sSOL liquid restaking tokens) and commit them to secure additional protocols beyond the base Solana network. Instead of just earning Solana validator rewards, restakers earn additional yields from AVS protocols they secure.
The process works through a delegation model: users deposit SOL or sSOL into Solayer’s contracts, which then delegate to validators who have opted into securing specific AVS. Validators run dedicated infrastructure for these AVS, and users earn rewards proportional to the value secured.
sSOL is Solayer’s core product—a liquid restaking token. When you stake SOL with Solayer, you receive sSOL tokens at a 1:1 ratio, representing your staked SOL plus accumulated rewards.
sSOL can be unstaked at any time, though there may be a withdrawal queue depending on network conditions. The token represents a claim on your original SOL plus all accumulated rewards from validating both Solana and AVS protocols.
Solayer supports two types of Actively Validated Services:
Endogenous AVS are applications built on Solana itself that benefit from Solayer’s restaking infrastructure. Examples include Solana-native applications that want enhanced security guarantees by having dedicated validators stake to their protocol.
Exogenous AVS are independent blockchain systems or Layer 1s that leverage Solayer for security. This is particularly relevant for InfiniSVM, which will be secured partly through Solayer’s restaking layer.
sUSD is Solayer’s innovative stablecoin product, backed by US Treasury Bills. It offers approximately 4% APY while maintaining a $1 peg, providing risk-averse users a stablecoin alternative that generates real yield without smart contract risk on the underlying collateral.
Solayer partnered with OpenEden, a protocol specializing in on-chain US Treasury exposure, to back sUSD. When users mint sUSD, their USDC or other stablecoins are converted to US Treasury Bills through OpenEden’s infrastructure. The T-Bills generate approximately 4% annual yield, which is distributed to sUSD holders.
This represents a unique product in Solana DeFi. Unlike other stablecoins that require over-collateralization or rely solely on trading spreads, sUSD derives yield from real-world asset backing, making it similar to real-world asset (RWA) protocols gaining traction across crypto.
While backed by US Treasury Bills, sUSD still carries risks including smart contract vulnerabilities in both Solayer and OpenEden’s infrastructure, regulatory changes affecting T-Bill custody, and depeg risk if the backing infrastructure experiences issues. The 4% yield is also subject to T-Bill rate fluctuations.
InfiniSVM is Solayer’s flagship infrastructure project: a hardware-accelerated Layer 1 blockchain targeting 1 million transactions per second. It represents Solayer’s vision for extreme scalability through optimized hardware architecture.
The name “InfiniSVM” references the Sealevel Virtual Machine (SVM), Solana’s execution environment. InfiniSVM extends this to extreme scales through hardware optimization, potentially using specialized processors or co-processors designed specifically for blockchain execution.
InfiniSVM will be an exogenous AVS secured through Solayer’s restaking infrastructure. This creates a unique dynamic where Solayer’s restakers directly secure Solayer’s own Layer 1, creating a self-reinforcing security and value loop.
InfiniSVM’s extreme throughput targets could make it useful for high-frequency trading, gaming, or other latency-sensitive applications. Its hardware-accelerated design distinguishes it from traditional software-only blockchains.
LAYER is Solayer’s governance token, launched with the Solayer Foundation. It provides voting rights over protocol parameters, ecosystem fund allocation, and strategic direction.
LAYER holders can vote on key protocol decisions including:
Solayer launched a $35M ecosystem fund in January 2026 designed to accelerate adoption and development within the Solayer ecosystem. The fund targets:
In March 2026, Solayer integrated WalletConnect into Solayer Explorer, improving user experience for interacting with the protocol. This followed the Solana Foundation’s April 2026 security overhaul—prompted by the Drift exploit—which affected ecosystem protocols including those working with Solayer.
While Solayer is often described as “EigenLayer for Solana,” there are significant differences worth understanding:
| Aspect | Solayer | EigenLayer |
|---|---|---|
| Base Layer | Solana | Ethereum |
| Liquid Token | sSOL | liquid ETH, LST tokens |
| Stablecoin | sUSD (T-Bill backed) | None native |
| Layer 1 Product | InfiniSVM (1M TPS target) | None |
| Validator Type | Solana validators + AVS ops | Ethereum stakers + operators |
| TVL | $150M+ (13th on Solana) | $10B+ (largest restaking) |
| Ecosystem Fund | $35M (Jan 2026) | Varies by program |
The key distinction is that Solayer is building a more complete ecosystem product suite including sUSD and InfiniSVM, whereas EigenLayer focuses primarily on restaking infrastructure. Solaya is also targeting Solana’s faster confirmation times and lower fees, which could support different AVS designs than EigenLayer.
The primary risk in restaking is slashing—penalties validators incur for misbehavior or protocol violations. When you restake SOL via sSOL, you’re exposing that capital to slashing on both Solana and any AVS you’re securing. A compromised or poorly-designed AVS could result in validator slashing and loss of your restaked capital.
Solayer’s contracts handle billions of dollars in user funds. While the protocol has undergone security audits, restaking protocols are novel and complex. Any smart contract vulnerability could expose user funds. The Solana Foundation’s April 2026 security overhaul highlights ongoing concerns in the ecosystem.
While sSOL is liquid, there are withdrawal queues and liquidity requirements. During periods of high unstaking demand or liquidity stress, you may face delays withdrawing your sSOL. This is less of an issue if you hold sSOL for long-term yields, but important for active traders.
Not all AVS protocols are created equal. Some may have poorly designed slashing conditions or incentive structures that expose restakers to outsized risk. Thoroughly evaluate any AVS you’re securing before committing capital.
Restaking exists in a regulatory gray area. Changes in how securities regulators view staking rewards or validator operations could impact Solayer’s business model. This is particularly relevant for US-based users and operators.
While sUSD is backed by US Treasury Bills, its $1 peg depends on functioning oracle infrastructure, sufficient liquidity, and correct functioning of the backing mechanism. A significant shortfall in any of these could cause a depeg.
InfiniSVM is still in development targeting 2026-2027 launch. Hardware-accelerated systems are complex, and achieving 1M TPS is an ambitious target. Development delays or technical challenges could impact timelines.
A: Solayer is Solana’s native restaking protocol, similar to EigenLayer on Ethereum. It allows users to restake SOL tokens to secure additional decentralized applications (AVS) beyond the base Solana network. Key differences include Solayer’s focus on Solana ecosystem optimization and its integration with Solana-native infrastructure like InfiniSVM. Solayer also offers sUSD (a T-Bill-backed stablecoin) and is building its own Layer 1 (InfiniSVM), whereas EigenLayer focuses primarily on restaking infrastructure.
A: sSOL is Solayer’s liquid restaking token. When you stake SOL with Solayer, you receive sSOL tokens representing your stake plus accumulated rewards. You earn yield through two sources: validation rewards from securing the Solana network, and additional rewards from securing AVS protocols you’ve opted into. sSOL automatically accrues rewards, and you can trade it without unstaking.
A: sUSD is a yield-bearing stablecoin backed by US Treasury Bills via Solayer’s partnership with OpenEden. It offers approximately 4% APY while maintaining a $1 peg. The backing in T-Bills provides collateral safety and generates the yield distributed to sUSD holders. It’s suitable for risk-averse users seeking stablecoin exposure with real yield.
A: InfiniSVM is Solayer’s hardware-accelerated Layer 1 blockchain targeting 1 million TPS (transactions per second). It’s currently in development with a target launch timeline for 2026-2027. InfiniSVM will be secured through Solayer’s restaking protocol and aims to provide extreme scalability using optimized hardware architecture for high-frequency trading and latency-sensitive applications.
A: LAYER is Solayer’s governance token providing voting rights over protocol parameters, fee structures, and ecosystem resource allocation. A $35M ecosystem fund was launched in January 2026 to support development, AVS integration, InfiniSVM infrastructure, and community initiatives. LAYER holders govern how these resources are deployed.
A: Key risks include slashing risk from validator misbehavior on AVS, smart contract vulnerabilities in the restaking protocol, liquidity risk with sSOL redemptions, regulatory uncertainty around restaking and staking rewards, AVS design risks, sUSD depeg risk, and InfiniSVM execution risk. Start with small amounts and thoroughly research any AVS before committing capital.
This guide is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Solayer, restaking protocols, and cryptocurrency investments carry significant risks including loss of principal, smart contract vulnerabilities, and regulatory changes. Always conduct your own research, understand the risks, and consult with qualified financial professionals before participating in restaking or any cryptocurrency protocol. The information provided is accurate as of April 2026 but may change rapidly. Verify current conditions directly on official protocol websites.