Solana News Today: MoonPay Launches Solana Liquid Staking with 8.49% APY to Tap $150B Market

MoonPay has introduced a liquid staking service for the Solana blockchain, allowing users to earn an 8.49% annual yield on their SOL tokens without locking up assets. The feature, launched in most regions excluding New York and the European Economic Area, requires a minimum investment of $1 in SOL. Users receive mpSOL tokens, which accrue rewards approximately every two days and can be converted back to unstaked SOL at any time [1]. This product expands MoonPay’s role from a fiat-to-crypto onramp to a provider of yield-generating services, aligning with broader industry demand for flexible staking options.

The service competes with existing Solana-native platforms like Marinade and Jito, both of which offer similar liquidity and yield structures. MoonPay’s approach emphasizes simplicity, aiming to reduce the technical barriers that have historically limited participation in staking. The company recently secured a BitLicense from New York state regulators, enabling it to offer digital asset services across all 50 U.S. states without intermediaries. This regulatory approval places MoonPay among 34 firms—including Coinbase, Circle, and Ripple—approved under New York’s stringent financial services framework since 2015 [1].

The launch coincides with heightened interest in Solana staking. In April, Solana briefly surpassed Ethereum in total value staked ($53.9 billion vs. Ethereum’s $53.7 billion), partly due to its higher average yield of 8.3% compared to Ethereum’s 3.2%. Institutional activity has also surged: a Solana staking ETF reached $100 million in volume within its first two weeks, while DeFi Development Corp and Upexi added nearly 3 million SOL to their holdings. Robinhood’s recent announcement to support ETH and SOL staking further underscores the ecosystem’s growth [1].

MoonPay’s entry into liquid staking reflects a strategic pivot to capture a share of the $150 billion+ crypto staking market. By leveraging Solana’s low fees and high throughput, the company positions itself as a bridge between accessibility and competitive returns. However, its offering lacks explicit APY guarantees, distinguishing it from protocols like ListaDAO, which advertises higher but variable yields. MoonPay CEO Ivan Soto-Wright described the product as a “traditional savings account with blockchain earnings,” highlighting its appeal to everyday users seeking yield without complex technical requirements [1].

Analysts note that MoonPay’s focus on user experience may differentiate it in a crowded market. While liquid staking derivatives are gaining traction as a mainstream financial instrument, their long-term success depends on factors like security, reliability, and regulatory clarity. Solana’s recent network outages raise questions about the stability of staking rewards, though MoonPay’s partnerships with established validators could mitigate risks. The service’s global availability—excluding only specific regions—further broadens its potential user base [1].

As crypto markets evolve, liquid staking is increasingly seen as a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems. MoonPay’s expansion into this space underscores a sector-wide shift toward user-centric, flexible financial tools. However, sustained adoption will require maintaining competitive yields, technical robustness, and regulatory compliance, particularly as competition intensifies and market conditions fluctuate.

Sources:

[1] [MoonPay Launches Liquid Staking for Solana as Interest in Yield Grows](https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/6881269d1d66d935bf41a8dd/)

[2] [MoonPay Introduces Staking](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moonpay-introduces-staking-302511963.html)