Jito Foundation, a crypto protocol that supports the blockchain Solana SOL$192.94, has raised $50 million in a private token sale led by Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z crypto, it announced in a press release Thursday.
The funding will support the foundation’s push to scale the Jito Network’s infrastructure, expand its developer tools, and continue building out liquid staking solutions tailored to Solana’s architecture.
JITO rose about 4% on the news, trading at $1.17 at press time.
At the center of Jito’s operations are two main products: a validator client optimized for Solana’s high-speed network and JitoSOL, a liquid staking token with over $3.2 billion in market cap.
Together, they allow Solana users to earn staking rewards while enabling fast, cost-efficient transaction processing.
With backing from a16z, one of crypto’s largest venture firms and an early Solana investor, Jito plans to grow its open-source tooling, support new developers, and expand globally. The foundation also aims to build on its newest infrastructure addition: the Block Assembly Marketplace (BAM), launched in September.
“This isn’t just about scaling,” said Brian Smith, president of Jito Foundation, in the release. “It’s about helping everyone on Solana extract more value while making the network more transparent and programmable.”
The funding also arrives on the heels of a proposed VanEck JitoSOL ETF filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in August. If approved, it would give traditional investors regulated exposure to staking yields from JitoSOL, marking a step toward integrating Solana-native products into conventional finance.
Ali Yahya, general partner at a16z crypto, said Jito’s role in building foundational tools like BAM puts it in a strong position to lead Solana’s next wave of growth. “Jito is catalyzing growth for the entire Solana ecosystem,” he said.
Source: https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/10/16/andreessen-horowitz-s-a16z-invests-usd50m-in-solana-staking-protocol-jito
