StakePoint

Solana DeFi Glossary

Definitions of key terms used in Solana DeFi, token locking, LP locking, and staking. Published by the StakePoint team.

Glossary/Token Account

Token Account

An on-chain Solana account that holds a balance of a specific SPL token.

Definition

A token account is an on-chain Solana account that holds a balance of a specific SPL or Token-2022 token for a specific owner. Unlike Ethereum, Solana does not store token balances directly in wallet accounts — each token requires a separate token account.

Token accounts store the token balance, the owner wallet address, and the token mint address. They require a small SOL rent deposit to exist. The standard form of token account is the Associated Token Account (ATA), which has a deterministic address based on the wallet and mint.

A Solana wallet holding 10 different tokens has 10 separate token accounts — one for each token. This account structure is a core feature of the SPL token standard.

StakePoint & Token Account

StakePoint interacts with token accounts to transfer locked tokens into Program Derived Addresses and to distribute staking rewards back to staker token accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a token account on Solana?

A token account is a separate on-chain account that holds a balance of a specific SPL token. Each token type requires its own token account.

How many token accounts does a Solana wallet have?

One per token held. A wallet holding 10 different tokens has 10 separate token accounts.