Jito Foundation and KODA Partner to Expand Institutional Access to JitoSOL in Korea

Korea's leading digital asset custody provider signals institutional intent as Jito deepens its presence across Asia Pacific

April 13, 2026 –  Jito Foundation today announced that it is working with KODA (Korea Digital Asset Co., Ltd.), Korea's largest digital asset custody provider, on plans to expand institutional access to JitoSOL across the Korean market. The two organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on institutional outreach and explore compliant pathways for JitoSOL custody and staking as Korea's virtual asset regulatory framework continues to take shape.

The agreement follows Jito Foundation's recently announced collaboration with Hanwha Asset Management, one of Korea's largest asset managers by AUM, to explore the launch of a JitoSOL ETF for the Korean market, subject to regulatory approval. Together, the two announcements reflect a coordinated effort to establish JitoSOL within Korea's institutional investment infrastructure ahead of anticipated regulatory developments, which include the Financial Services Commission's expected finalization of a comprehensive digital asset framework in 2026.

Under the agreement, Jito Foundation and KODA will collaborate on market education for institutional investors, explore compliant pathways for JitoSOL custody and staking, and coordinate outreach as the regulatory environment evolves. KODA's infrastructure supports cold wallet storage, MPC-based key management, and institutional staking, and it carries $20 million in digital asset insurance from Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, the first digital asset insurance policy among Korean VASPs.

KODA was founded with investment from KB Kookmin Bank, Korea's largest commercial bank by assets, and has since attracted backing from Hashed, Hatch Labs, Hanwha Securities, and Kyobo Securities. It holds a registered VASP license and ISMS certification, and its compliance infrastructure is undergoing SOC 1 Type 2 audit by Samil PwC.

"KODA's position in the Korean institutional market and the strength of their regulatory standing made this a logical next step for us," said Marc Liew, Head of APAC at Jito Foundation. "The discussions we are having across Korea, with both asset managers and custody providers, reflect a real shift in how institutions here are approaching liquid staking as part of their digital asset allocation."

"Our institutional clients are increasingly focused on regulated access to staking-based returns, and JitoSOL's profile on Solana makes it a natural starting point for those conversations," said Cho Jinseok, CEO of KODA. "This MOU gives us a framework to move those conversations forward in a structured way as the regulatory environment here develops."

JitoSOL is one of the largest liquid staking tokens on Solana, with a market capitalization of approximately $1.77 billion. JitoSOL represents the capital layer of Solana’s market infrastructure: productive collateral that remains liquid and composable across the network while earning staking rewards. Expanding regulated institutional access to JitoSOL in markets like Korea is part of how that capital layer deepens over time. 

Liquid staking allows holders to earn staking rewards while retaining token liquidity, a structure that has attracted institutional interest as custody, compliance, and risk management frameworks for digital assets have matured. In January, 21Shares launched the first 100% JitoSOL-backed ETP in Europe under the ticker JSOL and trades in US dollars and euros on Euronext Amsterdam and Paris.  At the same time, global custodians like BitGo and Hex Trust have also expanded regulated custody support for JitoSOL, enabling institutions to stake and unstake directly from custody accounts.

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.

About KODA

KODA is Korea's largest digital asset custodian by assets under custody, backed by KB Kookmin Bank, Hashed, Hatch Labs, Hanwha Securities, and Kyobo Securities. KODA holds a registered VASP license, ISMS certification, and $20 million in digital asset insurance from Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. Learn more at kodax.com.

Media Contact:

M Group Strategic Communications (on behalf of the Jito Network)

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