Solana launches Kora: fee relayer enabling zero-fee, token-paid transactions
Solana Foundation launched Kora on December 22, 2025 — a fee-relayer and signing node that enables fee-free user experiences and lets dApps pay transaction fees in arbitrary tokens instead of requiring users to hold SOL. Kora supports sponsored transactions where designated fee wallets cover fees for users, and accepts any token (including stablecoins such as USDC and in-game tokens) to pay gas. The tool targets gaming and consumer-facing dApps by removing SOL as an onboarding prerequisite and enabling flexible revenue models and subsidy flows. Kora integrates with standard RPC servers, CLI tools and configuration-based policy controls; developers can set allowed users/programs and custom fee rules. Security and operations features include remote signing integrations (AWS KMS, Turnkey and other providers), runtime verification, differential fuzz testing, six remote signers deployed, monitoring metrics and low-balance alerts for fee wallets. For traders, Kora could change on-chain fee dynamics and SOL utility over time by reducing the requirement for users to hold SOL for transactions; market observers should watch dApp adoption, fee sponsorship volumes and any resulting effect on SOL demand and protocol fee patterns. Keywords: Solana, Kora, fee relayer, gasless transactions, SOL, USDC, blockchain gaming.
Neutral
Kora reduces the need for end users to hold SOL by enabling apps to sponsor fees and accept other tokens for gas. In the short term this could slightly reduce transactional SOL demand as new users interact without buying SOL, which may exert mild downward pressure. However, the long-term effect is ambiguous: wider dApp adoption (especially in gaming and consumer apps) could increase overall transaction volumes on Solana, supporting SOL utility and fee-related demand. Security, monitoring and remote-signing features lower operational risk, aiding enterprise adoption. Because the announcement primarily affects user experience and fee mechanics rather than tokenomics changes like token issuance or staking rewards, the net immediate price impact on SOL is likely limited. Traders should monitor dApp integrations, sponsored-fee volumes, and on-chain metrics (transaction count, fee payer patterns, SOL burn/fees) to reassess directional bias.