a16z crypto Makes $50 Million Strategic Investment in Jito

The funding comes on the heels of the BAM mainnet launch and furthers the Foundation’s mission to maximize value for all Solana ecosystem participants

October 16, 2025 – Jito Foundation, the organization overseeing ecosystem growth and adoption of Jito protocols under the direction of the Jito DAO, today announced a $50 million strategic investment from a16z crypto via a private token sale. The Foundation will utilize this funding to further its mission of advancing Jito Network technology—and the Jito community—in an effort to maximize scalability, efficiency, and economic value on Solana, enhancing Solana’s position as the home of Internet Capital Markets.

The Jito Network delivers transformative infrastructure to the Solana ecosystem, securing the network through its transaction order-optimized validator client and powering the DeFi economy via the JitoSOL liquid staking protocol, which exceeds a $3.2 billion market cap. The investment will accelerate ecosystem expansion, with a focus on open-source protocol development, builder support, and platform innovation. The Foundation will continue to invest substantially in key ecosystem initiatives, including strategic partnerships, global market expansion, and the advancement of new infrastructure, such as the recently launched Block Assembly Marketplace (BAM).

“This investment validates our commitment to building the technology, partnerships, and policy foundations that bring onchain finance into the mainstream,” said Brian Smith, President of Jito Foundation. “This milestone for Jito reflects our commitment to delivering infrastructure that not only scales with the network but maximizes economic value for all participants. Bringing in an industry heavyweight and early investor in Solana will allow the foundation to continue exceeding our goals. These goals will continue to be centered around making Solana more transparent, programmable, and rewarding for everyone participating in the ecosystem. This is just another step in building Internet Capital Markets on Solana.”

The launch of Jito’s Block Assembly Marketplace (BAM) on Solana mainnet in September marks a paradigm shift for block assembly, bringing unprecedented transparency, privacy, and flexibility to the network. Through BAM, validators and builders unlock new revenue opportunities, advanced app-level customizability, and robust onchain composability. The BAM protocol stands as the most advanced block assembly solution deployed on Solana, and Jito’s open plugin system sets the stage for continued innovation by empowering developers to experiment and capture new forms of economic value.

“Jito is catalyzing growth for the entire Solana ecosystem through its pace of delivery and BAM's measurable impact on network efficiency,” said Ali Yahya, General Partner at a16z crypto. “We’re excited to back Jito and its stellar team’s efforts to accelerate the adoption of decentralized finance.”

Today’s news follows a wave of momentum for Jito in the world of traditional finance, with an August S-1 filing for the VanEck JitoSOL ETF, which represents a critical step towards institutional adoption of Solana-native liquid staking. The ETF will provide traditional investors exposure to onchain staking yields, with JitoSOL recognized for its robust security, deep liquidity, and integration across DeFi protocols. This affirms Jito’s leadership in bridging decentralized infrastructure with traditional financial products, expanding access and utility for investors globally. 

About Jito Foundation
The Jito Foundation coordinates ecosystem activities and accelerates the adoption of Jito's innovative technologies under the direction of the Jito DAO. By driving governance proposals, distributing grants, and forging strategic partnerships, the Foundation empowers stakeholders to shape the future of Jito's decentralized infrastructures. Through transparent, community-driven initiatives, the Jito Foundation ensures the sustained growth and resilience of Solana's DeFi ecosystem, benefiting validators, stakers, and the broader community. Learn more at jito.network

Media Contact
M Group Strategic Communications (on behalf of the Jito Network)
jitopr@mgroupsc.com