solana-rent-free-dev

Capabilities

ZK Compression is a framework on Solana for stablecoin payment rails, consumer apps and defi. The Light SDK and APIs let you create mint, token and PDA accounts >99% cheaper with familiar Solana developer experience.

Primitives

Primitive	Use case	Constraints
Light Token	Most token use cases (launchpads, DeFi, payments). Rent-free mint and token accounts. ~200x cheaper than SPL and more compute-unit efficient on the hot path.
Light-PDA	DeFi program state such as AMM pools and vaults. ~98% cheaper than PDAs and can be implemented with minimal code changes.
Compressed Token	Only for Airdrops and token distribution. Prefer Light Token for other purposes. Used by Light Token under the hood for rent-free storage of inactive Light Tokens. Supported by Phantom and Backpack.	Do not use for general-purpose token features. Use Light Token instead.
Compressed PDA	User state and app state, nullifiers (payments and ZK applications), DePIN nodes, and stake accounts. Similar to program-derived addresses without a rent-exempt balance.	Not for shared state, pool accounts, or config accounts. Use Light-PDA instead

View a complete API comparison to SPL and Solana: https://www.zkcompression.com/api-reference/solana-to-light-comparison.

Creation cost and Compute Unit Consumption

Metric	Light	Standard Solana
Mint Account	~0.00001 SOL	~0.0015 SOL
Token Account	~0.00001 SOL	~0.0029 SOL
PDA (100-byte)	~0.0000115 SOL	~0.0016 SOL
Associated token account creation	4,348 CU	14,194 CU
Transfer	312 CU	4,645 CU
Transfer (rent-free)	1,885 CU	4,645 CU

Install

Install orchestrator agent skill or view skill.md:

npx skills add https://zkcompression.com

Install or view dedicated agent skills.

npx skills add Lightprotocol/skills

Workflow

1. Clarify intent
   • Recommend plan mode, if it's not activated
   • Use AskUserQuestion to resolve blind spots
   • All questions must be resolved before execution
2. Identify references and skills
   • Match task to available skills below
   • Locate relevant documentation and examples
3. Write plan file (YAML task format)
   • Use AskUserQuestion for anything unclear — never guess or assume
   • Identify blockers: permissions, dependencies, unknowns
   • Plan must be complete before execution begins
4. Execute
   • Use Task tool with subagents for parallel research
   • Subagents load skills via Skill tool
   • Track progress with TodoWrite
5. When stuck: spawn subagent with Read, Glob, Grep, DeepWiki MCP access and load skills/ask-mcp

Skills

Use case	Skill
Skill for payment flows using Light Token APIs for sponsored rent-exemption.	payments
For Solana program development with tokens and PDAs, Light is 200x cheaper than SPL/ Solana and has minimal code differences	light-sdk
For client development with tokens on Solana, Light Token is 200x cheaper than SPL and has minimal changes	light-token-client
For data pipelines, aggregators, or indexers, real-time account state streaming on Solana with light account hot/cold lifecycle tracking	data-streaming
For token distribution on Solana 5000x cheaper than SPL (rewards, airdrops, depins, ...)	token-distribution
For custom ZK Solana programs and privacy-preserving applications to prevent double spending	zk-nullifier
For program development on Solana with infrequently accessed state, such as per-user state, DePIN registrations, ...	solana-compression
For testing with Light Protocol programs and clients on localnet, devnet, and mainnet validation	testing
For questions about compressed accounts, Light SDK, Solana development, Claude Code features, or agent skills	ask-mcp

Context

• SPL to Light reference: https://zkcompression.com/api-reference/solana-to-light-comparison

light-token

A token standard functionally equivalent to SPL that stores mint and token accounts more efficiently.

Mint accounts represent a unique mint and optionally store token-metadata. Functionally equivalent to SPL mints.

Token accounts hold balances from any light, SPL, or Token-2022 mint, without paying rent-exemption.

The token program pays rent-exemption cost for you. When an account has no remaining sponsored rent, the account is automatically compressed. Your tokens are cryptographically preserved as a compressed token account (rent-free). The account is loaded into hot account state in-flight when someone interacts with it again.

Use for: Stablecoin Orchestration, Cards, Agent Commerce, Defi, ... .

light-PDA

The Light-SDK pays rent-exemption for your PDAs, token accounts, and mints (98% cost savings). Your program logic stays the same.

After extended inactivity (multiple epochs without writes), accounts auto-compress to cold state. Your program only interacts with hot accounts. Clients load cold accounts back on-chain via create_load_instructions.

Area	Change
State struct	Derive LightAccount, add compression_info: CompressionInfo
Accounts struct	Derive LightAccounts, add #[light_account] on init accounts
Program module	Add #[light_program] above #[program]
Instructions	No changes

Use for: DeFi program state, AMM pools, vaults.

Compressed token (only use for token distribution)

Compressed token accounts store token balance, owner, and other information of tokens like SPL and light-tokens. Compressed token accounts are rent-free. Any light-token or SPL token can be compressed/decompressed at will. Supported by Phantom and Backpack.

Only use for: airdrops, token distribution without paying upfront rent per recipient.

Compressed PDA

Compressed PDAs are derived using a specific program address and seed, like regular PDAs. Custom programs invoke the Light System program to create and update accounts, instead of the System program.

Persistent unique identification. Program ownership. CPI between compressed and regular PDAs.

Use rent-free PDAs for: user state, app state, nullifiers for payments, DePIN node accounts, stake accounts, nullifiers for zk applications. Not for shared state, pool, and config accounts.

Guidelines

• light-token ≠ compressed token. light-token is a Solana account in hot state. Compressed token is a compressed account, always compressed, rent-free.
• light-PDA ≠ compressed PDA. light-PDA is a Solana PDA that transitions to compressed state when inactive. Compressed PDA is always compressed, derived like a PDA and requires a validity proof.
• light-token accounts hold SPL and Token-2022 balances, not just light-mint balances.
• When sponsored rent on a light-token or light-PDA runs out, the account compresses. It decompresses on next interaction.

Payment Flows

Name	Description	Docs	Examples
Overview	Learn how the Light Token APIs reduce account creation cost for stablecoin payment infrastructure by 99% with similar developer experience to SPL / Token 2022.	overview
Basic payment	Send a single token transfer with Light Token APIs for stablecoin payments with comparison to SPL.	basic-payment	basic-send-action | basic-send-instruction
Batch payments	Send payments to multiple recipients in a single transaction or sequentially.	batch-payments	batch-send
Payment with memo	Attach invoice IDs, payment references, or notes to Light Token transfers using Solana's memo program. The memo is recorded in the transaction logs for reconciliation.	payment-with-memo	payment-with-memo
Receive payments	Prepare to receive token payments by loading cold accounts and sharing your associated token account address.	receive-payments	receive
Verify payments	Query token balances and transaction history to verify incoming payments.	verify-payments	get-balance | get-history
Verify address	Verify recipient addresses before sending payments. Address validation prevents sending tokens to invalid or unexpected account types.	verify-recipient-address	verify-address
Wrap and unwrap	Move tokens between SPL / Token 2022 and Light Token accounts for interoperability with applications that don't support Light Token yet.	wrap-unwrap	wrap | unwrap
Spend permissions	Delegate token spending to a third party with an amount cap. The delegate can transfer tokens on behalf of the owner up to the approved amount, without the owner signing each transaction.	spend-permissions	delegate-full-flow
Nullifier PDAs	Create rent-free nullifier PDAs to prevent duplicate actions.	nullifier-pda
Production readiness	Non-exhaustive checklist for deploying Light Token payment flows to production, including RPC infrastructure, error handling, and security.	production-readiness
Wallet integration	Guide for Wallet Applications to add Light-token support.	wallets/overview
Sign with Privy	Integrate light-token with Privy embedded wallets for rent-free token accounts and transfers.	privy	sign-with-privy
Sign with Wallet Adapter	Integrate light-token with Solana Wallet Adapter for rent-free token accounts and transfers.	wallet-adapter	sign-with-wallet-adapter
Gasless transactions	Abstract SOL fees so users never hold SOL. Sponsor top-ups and transaction fees by setting your application as the fee payer.	gasless-transactions	gasless-transactions

Examples

TypeScript client (@lightprotocol/compressed-token)

Operation	Docs guide	GitHub example
createMintInterface	create-mint	action | instruction
createAtaInterface	create-ata	action | instruction
mintToInterface	mint-to	action | instruction
transferInterface	transfer-interface	action | instruction
approve	approve-revoke	action
revoke	approve-revoke	action
delegateTransfer	transfer-delegated	action
wrap	wrap-unwrap	action | instruction
unwrap	wrap-unwrap	action | instruction
loadAta	load-ata	action | instruction
createAtaExplicitRentSponsor	—	action
createSplInterface	add-interface-pda	action | instruction
createSplMint	create-mint	action | instruction
createT22Mint	create-mint	action | instruction
createTokenPool	—	instruction

Rust client (light-token-client)

Operation	Docs guide	GitHub example
CreateMint	create-mint	action | instruction
CreateAta	create-ata	action | instruction
CreateTokenAccount	create-token-account	instruction
MintTo	mint-to	action | instruction
TransferInterface	transfer-interface	action | instruction
TransferChecked	transfer-checked	action | instruction
Approve	approve-revoke	action | instruction
Revoke	approve-revoke	action | instruction
Burn	burn	instruction
BurnChecked	burn	instruction
Freeze	freeze-thaw	instruction
Thaw	freeze-thaw	instruction
Close	close-token-account	instruction
Wrap	wrap-unwrap	action
Unwrap	wrap-unwrap	action
MintToChecked	mint-to	instruction
SplToLightTransfer	—	instruction

Program examples (light_token)

	Description
escrow	Peer-to-peer light-token swap with offer/accept flow
fundraiser	Token fundraiser with target, deadline, and refunds
light-token-minter	Create light-mints with metadata, mint tokens
token-swap	AMM with liquidity pools and swaps (Anchor)
cp-swap-reference	Fork of Raydium AMM that creates markets without paying rent-exemption
pinocchio-swap	AMM with liquidity pools and swaps (Pinocchio)
create-and-transfer	Create account via macro and transfer via CPI

Program macros (light_token)

	Description
counter	Create PDA with sponsored rent-exemption
create-ata	Create associated light-token account
create-mint	Create light-token mint
create-token-account	Create light-token account

CPI instructions (light_token)

CPI calls can be combined with existing and/or light macros. The API is a superset of SPL-token.

Operation	Docs guide	GitHub example
CreateAssociatedAccountCpi	create-ata	src
CreateTokenAccountCpi	create-token-account	src
CreateMintCpi	create-mint	src
MintToCpi	mint-to	src
MintToCheckedCpi	mint-to	src
BurnCpi	burn	src
TransferCheckedCpi	transfer-checked	src
TransferInterfaceCpi	transfer-interface	src
ApproveCpi	approve-revoke	src
RevokeCpi	approve-revoke	src
FreezeCpi	freeze-thaw	src
ThawCpi	freeze-thaw	src
CloseAccountCpi	close-token-account	src

SDK references

TypeScript packages

Package	npm
@lightprotocol/stateless.js	npm
@lightprotocol/compressed-token	npm

Rust crates

Crate	docs.rs
light-sdk	docs.rs/light-sdk
light-sdk-pinocchio	docs.rs/light-sdk-pinocchio
light-token	docs.rs/light-token
light-token-client	docs.rs/light-token-client
light-compressed-token-sdk	docs.rs/light-compressed-token-sdk
light-client	docs.rs/light-client
light-program-test	docs.rs/light-program-test
light-account-pinocchio	docs.rs/light-account-pinocchio
light-token-pinocchio	docs.rs/light-token-pinocchio
light-hasher	docs.rs/light-hasher
light-account	docs.rs/light-account

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For additional documentation and navigation, see: https://www.zkcompression.com/llms.txt For additional skills, see: https://github.com/Lightprotocol/skills