INF vs mSOL: Complete Solana Liquid Staking Token Comparison 2026

INF and mSOL are both leading LSTs on Solana and can be great choices for Solana holders looking to earn yield on their coins while maintaining liquidity.

This article will compare the two across key areas of evaluation including yield, security, and size of network.

INF vs mSOL: Key Differences at a Glance

INF earns staking rewards plus trading fees by aggregating 200+ LSTs into one liquidity pool. mSOL is a single-pool LST from Marinade Finance that launched in 2021 and earns yield purely from validator delegation.

Yield Sources and APY Performance

How mSOL and INF Earn Yield

INF captures both staking rewards and trading fees while mSOL relies entirely on validator delegation. That structural difference is why INF delivered 21% higher yields than mSOL across the full year of 2025.

INF’s yield advantage held even during Q3-Q4 2025 when SIMD-207 and SIMD-256 compressed yields across all Solana LSTs. While every LST saw lower returns, INF still maintained its spread.

INF

INF averaged 9.62% APY across the full year of 2025, with a current 10-epoch APY of 7.72%. This was the best APY out of any tracked LST over the full year. Every time someone swaps one LST for another through the Infinity liquidity pool, INF holders capture 90% of that trading fee on top of their base staking rewards.

That fee-sharing model creates yield that grows with ecosystem activity rather than depending on temporary incentives. Over 2025, it translated to INF outperforming JitoSOL by 30% and mSOL by 21%.

Trading fee revenue also makes INF counter-cyclical. During the October 10, 2025 flash crash and BNSOL depeg, INF provided hundreds of thousands of SOL in liquidity to the market and recorded its highest APY epochs of the year. Market stress triggers more LST swapping, which generates more trading fees, which pushes yields up. INF performs better under pressure.

mSOL

mSOL generates returns through staking rewards from validator delegation. The yield comes from how well Marinade's validators perform. They don’t capture trading fees or other secondary revenue sources. mSOL currently delivers 6.11% on a 10-epoch basis and 6.20% for the last epoch.

→ Start earning higher yields with INF

→ Read the complete mechanics guide

Security Architecture and Depeg Risk

INF

INF is built on the SPL Stake Pool program, which has undergone 9 audits. On top of that foundation, INF has received additional audits from Neodyme, Ottersec, and Sec3.

The multi-asset design spreads redemption pressure across the entire LST basket rather than concentrating it in a single pool. When users want to exit, the reserve pool acts as a liquidity backstop. This architecture has resulted in zero depeg events and strong liquidity throughout INF's history.

Validator risk is diversified across multiple LST providers. Each LST in the basket delegates to its own validator set, so you're not exposed to one validator's performance or a single point of failure.

One tradeoff worth knowing: INF doesn't manage validators directly. It relies on constituent LSTs' delegation strategies. You get diversification across many validator sets, but less transparency into specific validators compared to protocols like Jito that manage 200+ validators directly.

mSOL

mSOL operates on Solana's staking infrastructure with publicly documented audits. The single-pool architecture concentrates redemption risk. That concentration became evident during the December 12, 2023 depeg when selling pressure exceeded available liquidity.

mSOL's unstaking fee tells the same story from a different angle: 0.3% standard, but it can spike to 1% when liquidity runs low. The fee is lowest when you don't need it and highest when you do.

Marinade has operated since 2021, giving it the longest operational track record of any Solana LST. The validator set is managed through algorithmic delegation across 100-400+ validators.

→ Explore INF's audited architecture

Liquidity Depth and Exit Flexibility

INF

INF provides instant unstaking via the Infinity liquidity pool with a 0.1-0.3% fee. You can redeem INF for any underlying LST or convert directly to SOL.

Aggregated liquidity across 200+ LSTs reduces slippage compared to single-pool designs. Fair-value routing prices every swap at the on-chain intrinsic SOL value of each LST — zero price impact under normal conditions. When routing can't satisfy a trade through the LST basket, the reserve pool acts as a backstop.

mSOL

mSOL offers instant unstaking through its liquidity pool at 0.3%, but that fee can spike to 1% when liquidity drops.

You can alternatively choose delayed unstake with no fee, but you'll wait through epoch boundaries.

Fee Comparison

INF charges a predictable unstaking fee but returns 90% of all trading revenue to holders. mSOL's unstaking fee is variable with no revenue sharing.

Which Solana LST Is Right for You?

When INF Is the Better Choice

If you're optimizing for yield, INF is the pick. The dual revenue model delivered 9.62% average APY across 2025, and the counter-cyclical design means your returns increase during volatile periods when most tokens face pressure.

For larger holders, aggregated liquidity across 200+ LSTs lets you exit large positions without moving the market the way you would in a single-pool design.

When mSOL Is the Better Choice

mSOL integrates into more lending protocols, DEXs, and yield vaults across Solana. If you're using a DeFi protocol that accepts mSOL but not INF, that compatibility matters more than the difference in yield.

Final Verdict

INF outperforms mSOL on yield, risk diversification, and exit predictability.

→ Start staking with INF

→ Read the complete INF guide

→ Explore Infinity pool architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Is INF better than mSOL for liquid staking?

For yield and risk management, yes. INF averaged 9.62% in 2025 versus mSOL's estimated 7.9%. The one area mSOL leads is DeFi protocol support. More platforms accept mSOL as collateral given its longer track record.

What's the difference between INF and mSOL yields?

mSOL earns from validator staking only. INF earns that same base yield plus a cut of every LST-to-LST swap that runs through the Infinity pool. That second revenue stream is why the gap exists.

How do instant unstaking fees compare?

INF is 0.1-0.3% regardless of market conditions. mSOL starts at 0.3% but can hit 1% when pool liquidity drops — usually during the volatile periods when you most want an exit.

What makes INF perform well during market crashes?

Panic triggers LST swapping. More swaps mean more trading fees flowing to INF holders. During the October 2025 flash crash, this pushed INF to its highest APY epochs of the year.

What are the best alternatives to mSOL for Solana staking?

INF leads the top 10 LSTs by APY at 7.72% on a 10-epoch basis. Other options include JitoSOL (largest by TVL), JupSOL, and dSOL.

Can I instantly unstake both tokens?

Yes. The difference is cost predictability. INF stays in a tight 0.1-0.3% range. mSOL varies from 0.3-1% depending on pool liquidity.