The Solana Foundation has introduced Kora, a fee relayer that enables users to perform transactions without fees and pay using custom tokens. SOL no longer needs to be held to interact with users.
On the 22nd of December, Kora was introduced. The Foundation stated on X that it allows fee-free payments and accepts custom fee tokens across the ecosystem.
Introducing Kora, a fee relayer and signing node for the @Solana ecosystem, enabling fee-free transactions, custom fee tokens, and more https://t.co/7wlmeYrbT6 pic.twitter.com/zloRLZ7oD9
— Solana Foundation (@SolanaFndn) December 22, 2025
Source – X
Kora eliminates a significant barrier to blockchain adoption: users usually require native tokens, such as SOL, to send money, which can be difficult to use and can confuse new users.
Apps Pay While Users Play
Onboarding is totally transformed by this fee relayer. All transaction costs may now be sponsored by apps, and users can interact without any SOL.
In X, the Foundation wrote that any token could be used to pay fees, which implies that stablecoins like USDC become a payment option, and apps are free to choose the revenue model.
The greatest beneficiaries are gaming platforms. New players will be able to join immediately without wallet friction because in-game tokens will take care of all transaction fees.
In the past, users were required to purchase SOL first, which turned away many. Kora skips that additional step altogether.
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Security Meets Flexibility
Runtime Verification has completely audited Kora, which also has differential fuzz testing, providing a sense of confidence in production to developers.
Kora is presently serving six remote signers. Teams follow funds using built-in metrics, and low balance alerts prevent failure of transactions.
Standard RPC servers can be used immediately by developers. Integration is simplified with command-line tools, and high-level policy control is given by configuration files.
Teams are able to state allowed users and programs. Payment is verified and confirmed, then the payment is processed, and unique business requirements are easily fit by custom rules.
Signing to ensure good environments. Remote signing minimizes direct exposure, keys are integrated with AWS KMS and Turnkey, and keys are protected.
Source: https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/solana-drops-kora-zero-fee-blockchain-transactions-arrive/