Wavebridge, a licensed virtual asset service provider based in Seoul, just signed an agreement with the Jito Foundation to bring JitoSOL-based products tailored for Korean institutions. This partnership connects Wavebridge’s local presence and compliance know-how with Jito’s technical expertise behind Solana’s top liquid staking token.
The collaboration means Wavebridge will manage custody, product design, and distribution within South Korea’s regulatory framework. Meanwhile, Jito Foundation will focus on advising how the staking mechanics and reward structures work, balancing yield and risk for users.
JitoSOL stands out because it combines typical staking returns with extra rewards from MEV, or maximal extractable value. That’s the additional income generated by optimally ordering transactions on Solana’s blockchain. As of early 2026, over 14 million SOL tokens have flowed into JitoSOL, making it the dominant liquid staking option in the Solana ecosystem by a large margin.
The memorandum was signed around late July 2026. Beyond product development, both sides plan to publish joint research on the potential for digital asset ETFs in South Korea, involving other players like Hanwha Asset Management. Hanwha is a major traditional asset manager in Korea, which adds weight to the initiative.
Mark Liu, head of Jito Foundation’s Asia-Pacific operations, called Wavebridge “the ideal partner” to navigate South Korea’s strict rules and bring JitoSOL products to market responsibly. On the other side, Wavebridge’s CEO Oh Jong-wook highlighted the growing appetite among institutional investors for crypto exposure but pointed out that fragmented infrastructure remains a hurdle to broader adoption.
Founded in 2018, Wavebridge serves institutional clients with OTC trading, custody, and prime brokerage services, with a reach extending to Europe through its Lithuanian subsidiary. This gives them a unique edge in bridging different markets.
This move is notable because South Korea has yet to approve any digital asset ETFs, but the research effort involving both crypto-native firms and a traditional financial giant suggests serious groundwork toward eventual regulatory acceptance. Investors may want to keep an eye on how this evolves, as it could open new doors for regulated crypto products.
