Capabilities
ZK Compression is a framework on Solana for token distribution, stablecoin payments, consumer apps, and per-user state. The Light SDK and APIs let you create token and PDA accounts without rent-exemption, with a familiar Solana developer experience.
Primitives
| Primitive |
Use case |
Constraints |
| Compressed Token |
Token use cases such as token distribution, stablecoin payments, and storing balances rent-free. Always compressed and rent-free. Works with SPL and Token-2022. Supported by Phantom and Backpack. |
The SPL mint and interface PDA pay rent; individual token accounts do not. |
| Compressed PDA |
Per-user and app state, nullifiers (payments and ZK applications), DePIN nodes, and stake accounts. Derived like a program-derived address, without a rent-exempt balance. |
Programs invoke the Light System Program (not the System Program) with a validity proof. |
View the SDK reference: https://www.zkcompression.com/api-reference/sdk.
Creation cost
| Creation cost |
Compressed |
Standard Solana |
| Token account |
~5,000 lamports |
~2,000,000 lamports |
| PDA (100-byte) |
~15,000 lamports |
~1,600,000 lamports |
Install
Install the 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
- Clarify intent
- Recommend plan mode, if it's not activated
- Use
AskUserQuestion to resolve blind spots
- All questions must be resolved before execution
- Identify references and skills
- Match the task to the available skills below
- Locate relevant documentation and examples
- 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
- Execute
- Use
Task tool with subagents for parallel research
- Subagents load skills via
Skill tool
- Track progress with
TodoWrite
- When stuck: spawn a subagent with
Read, Glob, Grep, DeepWiki MCP access and load skills/ask-mcp
Skills
| Use case |
Skill |
| For token use cases on Solana, such as token distribution, stablecoin payments and more. Works with Token-2022, Privy, Wallet Adapter similarly to SPL. |
compressed-token |
| For program development on Solana with infrequently accessed state, such as per-user state, DePIN registrations, nullifiers, or custom compressed accounts |
compressed-pda |
| For custom ZK Solana programs and privacy-preserving applications to prevent double spending |
zk |
| 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
Compressed token
Compressed token accounts store balance, owner, mint, and delegate like SPL token accounts, without paying rent-exemption. Any SPL or Token-2022 token can be compressed and decompressed at will. Wallets like Phantom and Backpack display them alongside SPL tokens.
A compressed token uses a standard SPL (or Token-2022) mint plus an interface PDA. The interface PDA is an omnibus account that locks SPL tokens while they are compressed and releases them on decompression. The SPL mint and interface PDA pay rent like regular SPL accounts; individual compressed token accounts are rent-free.
Use for: token distribution and airdrops, stablecoin payments, and storing token balances rent-free.
Compressed PDA
Compressed PDAs are derived using a program address and seed, like regular PDAs. A program invokes the Light System Program (not the System Program) to create and update them. Creating an account requires a validity proof that the derived address does not yet exist; updates, closes, and burns require a proof that the account exists.
Persistent unique identification. Program ownership. CPI between compressed and regular PDAs.
Use for: per-user state, app state, nullifiers for payments and ZK applications, DePIN node accounts, and stake accounts.
Examples
Compressed token client (@lightprotocol/compressed-token)
Operations use @lightprotocol/compressed-token with createRpc() from @lightprotocol/stateless.js.
Token distribution
Compressed PDA programs (light-sdk)
| Example |
Description |
| counter |
Full lifecycle (create, update, close) in Anchor, native, and Pinocchio |
| basic-operations |
Create, update, close, reinitialize, burn (Anchor and native) |
| create-and-update |
Create and update with a single validity proof in one instruction |
| account-comparison |
Compressed vs regular Solana accounts |
| nullifier-program |
Rent-free PDA for duplicate-execution prevention |
| zk-id |
Identity verification with Groth16 proofs |
SDK references
TypeScript packages
| Package |
npm |
@lightprotocol/stateless.js |
npm |
@lightprotocol/compressed-token |
npm |
Rust crates
For additional documentation and navigation, see: https://www.zkcompression.com/llms.txt
For additional skills, see: https://github.com/Lightprotocol/skills
1---2name: solana-rent-free-dev3description: Skill for Solana development using compressed accounts from Light Protocol. Covers compressed token client development (TypeScript) and compressed PDA program development (Rust) across Anchor, native Rust, and Pinocchio. Use cases include token distribution, stablecoin payments, per-user and app state, nullifiers, and ZK applications.4---5
6## Capabilities
7
8ZK Compression is a framework on Solana for token distribution, stablecoin payments, consumer apps, and per-user state. The Light SDK and APIs let you create token and PDA accounts without rent-exemption, with a familiar Solana developer experience.
9
10### Primitives
11
12| Primitive | Use case | Constraints |
13| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
14| Compressed Token | Token use cases such as token distribution, stablecoin payments, and storing balances rent-free. Always compressed and rent-free. Works with SPL and Token-2022. Supported by Phantom and Backpack. | The SPL mint and interface PDA pay rent; individual token accounts do not. |
15| Compressed PDA | Per-user and app state, nullifiers (payments and ZK applications), DePIN nodes, and stake accounts. Derived like a program-derived address, without a rent-exempt balance. | Programs invoke the Light System Program (not the System Program) with a validity proof. |
16
17View the SDK reference: https://www.zkcompression.com/api-reference/sdk.
18
19### Creation cost
20
21| Creation cost | Compressed | Standard Solana |
22| ------------------ | -------------------: | -------------------: |
23| **Token account** | **~5,000 lamports** | ~2,000,000 lamports |
24| **PDA (100-byte)** | **~15,000 lamports** | ~1,600,000 lamports |
25
26### Install
27
28Install the orchestrator agent skill or view [skill.md](https://www.zkcompression.com/skill.md):
29
30```bash
31npx skills add https://zkcompression.com
32```
33
34Install or view [dedicated agent skills](/ai-tools/overview#agent-skills):
35
36```
37npx skills add Lightprotocol/skills
38```
39
40## Workflow
41
421. **Clarify intent**
43 - Recommend plan mode, if it's not activated
44 - Use `AskUserQuestion` to resolve blind spots
45 - All questions must be resolved before execution
462. **Identify references and skills**
47 - Match the task to the available [skills](#skills) below
48 - Locate relevant documentation and examples
493. **Write plan file** (YAML task format)
50 - Use `AskUserQuestion` for anything unclear — never guess or assume
51 - Identify blockers: permissions, dependencies, unknowns
52 - Plan must be complete before execution begins
534. **Execute**
54 - Use `Task` tool with subagents for parallel research
55 - Subagents load skills via `Skill` tool
56 - Track progress with `TodoWrite`
575. **When stuck**: spawn a subagent with `Read`, `Glob`, `Grep`, DeepWiki MCP access and load `skills/ask-mcp`
58
59## Skills
60
61| Use case | Skill |
62| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
63| For token use cases on Solana, such as token distribution, stablecoin payments and more. Works with Token-2022, Privy, Wallet Adapter similarly to SPL. | [compressed-token](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/skills/tree/main/skills/compressed-token) |
64| For program development on Solana with infrequently accessed state, such as per-user state, DePIN registrations, nullifiers, or custom compressed accounts | [compressed-pda](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/skills/tree/main/skills/compressed-pda) |
65| For custom ZK Solana programs and privacy-preserving applications to prevent double spending | [zk](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/skills/tree/main/skills/zk) |
66| For testing with Light Protocol programs and clients on localnet, devnet, and mainnet validation | [testing](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/skills/tree/main/skills/testing) |
67| For questions about compressed accounts, Light SDK, Solana development, Claude Code features, or agent skills | [ask-mcp](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/skills/tree/main/skills/ask-mcp) |
68
69## Context
70
71- SDK reference: https://zkcompression.com/api-reference/sdk
72
73### Compressed token
74
75Compressed token accounts store balance, owner, mint, and delegate like SPL token accounts, without paying rent-exemption. Any SPL or Token-2022 token can be compressed and decompressed at will. Wallets like Phantom and Backpack display them alongside SPL tokens.
76
77A compressed token uses a standard SPL (or Token-2022) mint plus an interface PDA. The interface PDA is an omnibus account that locks SPL tokens while they are compressed and releases them on decompression. The SPL mint and interface PDA pay rent like regular SPL accounts; individual compressed token accounts are rent-free.
78
79Use for: token distribution and airdrops, stablecoin payments, and storing token balances rent-free.
80
81### Compressed PDA
82
83Compressed PDAs are derived using a program address and seed, like regular PDAs. A program invokes the Light System Program (not the System Program) to create and update them. Creating an account requires a validity proof that the derived address does not yet exist; updates, closes, and burns require a proof that the account exists.
84
85Persistent unique identification. Program ownership. CPI between compressed and regular PDAs.
86
87Use for: per-user state, app state, nullifiers for payments and ZK applications, DePIN node accounts, and stake accounts.
88
89## Examples
90
91### Compressed token client (`@lightprotocol/compressed-token`)
92
93Operations use `@lightprotocol/compressed-token` with `createRpc()` from `@lightprotocol/stateless.js`.
94
95| Operation | GitHub example |
96| ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
97| `createMint` | [create-mint](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/blob/main/compressed-token-cookbook/actions/create-mint.ts) |
98| `createTokenPool` | [create-token-pool](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/blob/main/compressed-token-cookbook/actions/create-token-pool.ts) |
99| `mintTo` | [mint-to](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/blob/main/compressed-token-cookbook/actions/mint-to.ts) |
100| `transfer` | [transfer](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/blob/main/compressed-token-cookbook/actions/transfer.ts) |
101| `approve` / `revoke` | [approve](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/blob/main/compressed-token-cookbook/actions/approve.ts) \| [revoke](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/blob/main/compressed-token-cookbook/actions/revoke.ts) |
102| `compress` | [compress](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/blob/main/compressed-token-cookbook/actions/compress.ts) |
103| `decompress` | [decompress](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/blob/main/compressed-token-cookbook/actions/decompress.ts) |
104| `compressSplTokenAccount`| [compress-spl-account](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/blob/main/compressed-token-cookbook/actions/compress-spl-account.ts) |
105| `mergeTokenAccounts` | [merge-token-accounts](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/blob/main/compressed-token-cookbook/actions/merge-token-accounts.ts) |
106
107### Token distribution
108
109| Flow | GitHub example |
110| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
111| Simple airdrop | [simple-airdrop](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/tree/main/example-token-distribution/src/simple-airdrop) |
112| Optimized airdrop | [optimized-airdrop](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-zk-compression/tree/main/example-token-distribution/src/optimized-airdrop) |
113
114### Compressed PDA programs (`light-sdk`)
115
116| Example | Description |
117| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
118| [counter](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/program-examples/tree/main/counter) | Full lifecycle (create, update, close) in Anchor, native, and Pinocchio |
119| [basic-operations](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/program-examples/tree/main/basic-operations) | Create, update, close, reinitialize, burn (Anchor and native) |
120| [create-and-update](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/program-examples/tree/main/create-and-update) | Create and update with a single validity proof in one instruction |
121| [account-comparison](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/program-examples/tree/main/account-comparison) | Compressed vs regular Solana accounts |
122| [nullifier-program](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/nullifier-program) | Rent-free PDA for duplicate-execution prevention |
123| [zk-id](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/program-examples/tree/main/zk/zk-id) | Identity verification with Groth16 proofs |
124
125## SDK references
126
127### TypeScript packages
128
129| Package | npm |
130| --------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
131| `@lightprotocol/stateless.js` | [npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@lightprotocol/stateless.js) |
132| `@lightprotocol/compressed-token` | [npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@lightprotocol/compressed-token) |
133
134### Rust crates
135
136| Crate | docs.rs |
137| ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
138| `light-sdk` | [docs.rs/light-sdk](https://docs.rs/light-sdk) |
139| `light-sdk-pinocchio` | [docs.rs/light-sdk-pinocchio](https://docs.rs/light-sdk-pinocchio) |
140| `light-compressed-token-sdk` | [docs.rs/light-compressed-token-sdk](https://docs.rs/light-compressed-token-sdk) |
141| `light-client` | [docs.rs/light-client](https://docs.rs/light-client) |
142| `light-program-test` | [docs.rs/light-program-test](https://docs.rs/light-program-test) |
143| `light-hasher` | [docs.rs/light-hasher](https://docs.rs/light-hasher) |
144| `light-account` | [docs.rs/light-account](https://docs.rs/light-account) |
145
146---
147
148> For additional documentation and navigation, see: [https://www.zkcompression.com/llms.txt](https://www.zkcompression.com/llms.txt)
149> For additional skills, see: [https://github.com/Lightprotocol/skills](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/skills)
Solizardking