Hylo Leveraged SOL (xSOL) is a tokenized asset on the Solana blockchain designed to provide holders with leveraged long exposure to the price of Solana (SOL). It is one of two core tokens within the Hylo protocol, a decentralized finance system that also issues the hyUSD stablecoin.

Overview

Hylo is a decentralized stablecoin protocol built natively on the Solana network. The project's stated mission is to build "DeFi Native Money on Solana." ^[1] The protocol is designed to be autonomous and self-contained, operating without reliance on traditional financial infrastructure or real-world assets (RWAs) for collateral. Instead, the entire system is collateralized by a diversified basket of Solana Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs), which the project describes as "on chain bonds" that utilize the network's native yield. ^[2]

The protocol operates on a dual-token model featuring xSOL and hyUSD, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. These two tokens are symbiotic; xSOL is engineered to absorb the price volatility of the underlying LST collateral pool, which in turn allows hyUSD to maintain its price stability. The system aims to provide guaranteed, slippage-free liquidity for both of its native tokens at all times through financially incentivized risk management mechanisms. The protocol's architecture is guided by four core principles: being Solana Native for performance and composability, Decentralized by using only on-chain assets for collateral, Permissionless through autonomous operation, and Secure via its risk management and liquidity guarantees. ^[2]

History

The Hylo project announced the successful closure of a $1.5 million seed funding round on August 7, 2025. The round was led by Robot Ventures, with participation from Colosseum and Solana Ventures. In the announcement, the project team stated its focus on building decentralized financial infrastructure on the Solana blockchain. ^[1]

"We're excited to announce our $1.5M seed round led by @robotventures, with participation from @colosseum and @SolanaVentures. The team proudly welcomes these legendary investors to the Hylo family as we stay focused on our mission: building DeFi Native Money on @solana." ^[1]

While the announcement did not specify the roles of the founding team, an accompanying graphic mentioned the names "Anna, Luke, Thomas, and others," indicating their involvement with the project. ^[1]

Technology

The Hylo protocol's technology is centered around its dual-token system, a shared collateral pool, and a set of mathematical invariants that govern the relationship between its assets. This design allows xSOL to function as a leveraged instrument while simultaneously acting as the primary risk-absorption layer for the hyUSD stablecoin.

Dual-Token Symbiosis

The protocol issues two distinct but interconnected tokens, hyUSD and xSOL, which are both backed by the same pool of collateral. Their relationship is designed to be mutually beneficial and essential for the system's stability.

• hyUSD: A stablecoin designed to maintain a peg to $1. It is backed by a portion of the protocol's collateral pool.
• xSOL: A leveraged token that represents a claim on the remaining portion of the collateral pool after accounting for the value needed to back all circulating hyUSD. It is designed to absorb the price fluctuations of the underlying SOL LSTs.

When users mint hyUSD, they increase the total value of the collateral pool relative to the existing supply of xSOL, which in turn increases the effective leverage for xSOL holders. Conversely, xSOL absorbs price losses in the collateral, protecting the value backing hyUSD and helping it maintain its peg. ^[3]

Collateralization

Unlike stablecoin protocols that rely on fiat currency, real-world assets, or other stablecoins for backing, Hylo is collateralized exclusively by a basket of Solana Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs). These LSTs represent staked SOL that continues to earn staking rewards while remaining liquid and usable within the DeFi ecosystem. This approach keeps the protocol's collateral entirely on-chain and native to the Solana network, aligning with its principle of decentralization. The value of this shared collateral pool underpins the value of both the hyUSD and xSOL tokens in circulation. ^[2]

Pricing and Leverage Mechanism

The price and leverage of xSOL are not determined by external order books or market makers. Instead, they are calculated algorithmically by the protocol based on the state of the shared collateral pool and the supply of its two tokens.

The Hylo Invariant

The core of the protocol is an invariant equation that ensures the system remains balanced at all times. The total value of the collateral in the pool must always equal the combined market capitalization of all circulating hyUSD and xSOL.

The formula is expressed as: Collateral TVL = (hyUSD Supply × hyUSD Price) + (xSOL Supply × xSOL Price)

This equation dictates that any change in the value of the collateral (TVL) must be reflected in a corresponding change in the value of the tokens it backs. Since the protocol's mechanisms work to keep the price of hyUSD at $1, fluctuations in the collateral's value are primarily absorbed by the price of xSOL. ^[3]

xSOL Price Calculation

The price of xSOL is a direct function of the "variable reserve" of the collateral pool, that is, the value of the collateral that is not required to back the circulating supply of hyUSD.

The price is calculated with the following formula: xSOL Price = (Collateral TVL - hyUSD Supply) / xSOL Supply

This mechanism leads to leveraged price movements. For example, if the collateral value (TVL) increases, the entire gain is allocated to the portion of the pool backing xSOL, causing its price to rise by a multiplied factor. Conversely, if the collateral value decreases, the loss is absorbed by the xSOL reserves, causing its price to fall more sharply than the underlying asset and protecting the reserves backing hyUSD. ^[3]

Dynamic Effective Leverage

The leverage for xSOL is not a fixed multiple (e.g., 2x or 3x) but is dynamic, changing in real-time based on the protocol's state. The "effective leverage" represents xSOL's exposure to the price movements of the underlying SOL LST collateral.

It is calculated as: Effective Leverage = Collateral TVL / xSOL Market Cap

The market cap of xSOL is its supply multiplied by its protocol-determined price. The leverage level is influenced by the minting and redeeming of both hyUSD and xSOL:

• Leverage Increases when more hyUSD is minted (increasing the TVL relative to xSOL's market cap) or when xSOL is redeemed (decreasing its market cap).
• Leverage Decreases when hyUSD is redeemed (decreasing the TVL) or when more xSOL is minted (increasing its market cap).

Essentially, the effective leverage is inversely proportional to the fraction of the total collateral value held by xSOL. A smaller xSOL share of the TVL results in higher leverage for its holders. The protocol includes stability mechanisms intended to keep this effective leverage within a target range. ^[3]

Tokenomics

As of November 2025, information from exchange listings indicated a circulating and total supply for xSOL.

• Circulating Supply: 24,000,000 XSOL ^[4]
• Total Supply: 24,000,000 XSOL ^[4]
• Maximum Supply: Not specified.
• Market Capitalization: Approximately $18.43 million as of November 15, 2025. ^[5]
• All-Time High (ATH): $2.08 ^[5]
• All-Time Low (ATL): $0.68994 ^[5]

Official documentation from the project does not provide details regarding token distribution, allocation schedules for the team or investors, or the utility of any potential governance token. The primary utility of xSOL within the protocol is to provide leveraged exposure to SOL and absorb collateral volatility. ^[2]

Team

The specific identities and roles of the core team members behind Hylo have not been publicly detailed. However, a graphic included in the project's seed funding announcement on August 7, 2025, mentioned the first names "Anna, Luke, Thomas, and others," suggesting their connection to the project's development or leadership. Further details on their backgrounds or specific contributions to the protocol are not available. ^[1]