Create Associated Light Token Accounts

Client and program guide to create associated light-token accounts. Includes step-by-step implementation and full code examples.

---

1. Associated light-token accounts are Solana accounts that hold token balances of light, SPL, or Token 2022 mints.
2. The address for light-ATAs is deterministically derived with the owner’s address, compressed token program ID, and mint address.
3. Associated light-token accounts implement a default rent config:
   1. At account creation, you pay ~17,208 lamports for 24h of rent
      and compression incentive (the rent-exemption is sponsored by the protocol)
   2. Transfers keep the account funded with rent for 3h via top-ups. The transaction payer tops up 776 lamports when the account’s rent is below 3h.

Light Rent Config Explained

1. The rent-exemption for light-token account creation is sponsored by Light Protocol.
2. Transaction payer’s pay rent per rent-epoch (388 lamports for 1.5h)
   to keep accounts “active”.
3. “Inactive” accounts, where rent is below one epoch, are compressed
   and the rent-exemption can be claimed by the rent sponsor.
4. Transfers to inactive accounts “load” it with the same state (decompress).

This way rent is automatically paid when accounts are used:

Event	Total Cost	Payer	Time of Rent funded
Account Creation	~17,000 lamports	Transaction payer	Funds 24h rent
Automatic Top ups (when rent < 3h)	776 lamports	Transaction payer	Funds 3h rent
Load Account (when inactive)	~17,000 lamports	Transaction payer	Funds 24h rent

Get Started

TypeScript Client

The createAtaInterface function creates an associated light-token account in a single call.

Compare to SPL:

Find the source code here.

1. Create Associated Token Account

   Installations

   npm

   Install packages in your working directory:

   npm install @lightprotocol/stateless.js@alpha \
               @lightprotocol/compressed-token@alpha
   

   Install the CLI globally:

   npm install -g @lightprotocol/zk-compression-cli@alpha
   

   yarn

   Install packages in your working directory:

   yarn add @lightprotocol/stateless.js@alpha \
            @lightprotocol/compressed-token@alpha
   

   Install the CLI globally:

   yarn global add @lightprotocol/zk-compression-cli@alpha
   

   pnpm

   Install packages in your working directory:

   pnpm add @lightprotocol/stateless.js@alpha \
            @lightprotocol/compressed-token@alpha
   

   Install the CLI globally:

   pnpm add -g @lightprotocol/zk-compression-cli@alpha
   

   # Start local test-validator in separate terminal
   light test-validator
   

   Action

   import { Keypair } from "@solana/web3.js";
   import { createRpc } from "@lightprotocol/stateless.js";
   import { createMintInterface, createAtaInterface } from "@lightprotocol/compressed-token";
   
   async function main() {
   const rpc = createRpc();
   const payer = Keypair.generate();
   const sig = await rpc.requestAirdrop(payer.publicKey, 10e9);
   await rpc.confirmTransaction(sig);
   
   const { mint } = await createMintInterface(rpc, payer, payer, null, 9);
   
   const owner = Keypair.generate();
   const ata = await createAtaInterface(rpc, payer, mint, owner.publicKey);
   
   console.log("ATA:", ata.toBase58());
   }
   
   main().catch(console.error);
   
   

Rust Client

1. The example creates a test light-mint. You can use existing light-mints, SPL or Token 2022 mints as well.
2. Derive the address from mint and owner pubkey.
3. Build the instruction with CreateAssociatedCTokenAccount. It automatically includes the default rent config:

use light_ctoken_sdk::ctoken::CreateAssociatedCTokenAccount;

let instruction = CreateAssociatedCTokenAccount::new(
    payer.pubkey(),
    owner,
    mint,
)
.instruction()?;

4. Send transaction & verify light-ATA creation with get_account.

1. Prerequisites

   Dependencies

   Cargo.toml

   [dependencies]
   light-compressed-token-sdk = "0.1"
   light-client = "0.1"
   light-ctoken-types = "0.1"
   solana-sdk = "2.2"
   borsh = "0.10"
   tokio = { version = "1.36", features = ["full"] }
   
   [dev-dependencies]
   light-program-test = "0.1"  # For in-memory tests with LiteSVM
   

   Developer Environment

   In-Memory (LightProgramTest)

   Test with Lite-SVM (…)

   # Initialize project
   cargo init my-light-project
   cd my-light-project
   
   # Run tests
   cargo test
   

   use light_program_test::{LightProgramTest, ProgramTestConfig};
   use solana_sdk::signer::Signer;
   
   #[tokio::test]
   async fn test_example() {
       // In-memory test environment 
       let mut rpc = LightProgramTest::new(ProgramTestConfig::default())
           .await
           .unwrap();
   
       let payer = rpc.get_payer().insecure_clone();
       println!("Payer: {}", payer.pubkey());
   }
   

   Localnet (LightClient)

   Connects to a local test validator.

   npm

   npm install -g @lightprotocol/zk-compression-cli@alpha
   

   yarn

   yarn global add @lightprotocol/zk-compression-cli@alpha
   

   pnpm

   pnpm add -g @lightprotocol/zk-compression-cli@alpha
   

   # Initialize project
   cargo init my-light-project
   cd my-light-project
   
   # Start local test validator (in separate terminal)
   light test-validator
   

   use light_client::rpc::{LightClient, LightClientConfig, Rpc};
   
   #[tokio::main]
   async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
       // Connects to http://localhost:8899
       let rpc = LightClient::new(LightClientConfig::local()).await?;
   
       let slot = rpc.get_slot().await?;
       println!("Current slot: {}", slot);
   
       Ok(())
   }
   

   Devnet (LightClient)

   Replace <your-api-key> with your actual API key. Get your API key here.

   use light_client::rpc::{LightClient, LightClientConfig, Rpc};
   
   #[tokio::main]
   async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
       let rpc_url = "https://devnet.helius-rpc.com?api-key=<your_api_key>";
       let rpc = LightClient::new(
           LightClientConfig::new(rpc_url.to_string(), None, None)
       ).await?;
   
       println!("Connected to Devnet");
       Ok(())
   }
   
2. Create ATA

   use borsh::BorshDeserialize;
   use light_client::indexer::{AddressWithTree, Indexer};
   use light_client::rpc::{LightClient, LightClientConfig, Rpc};
   use light_ctoken_sdk::ctoken::{
       derive_ctoken_ata, CreateAssociatedCTokenAccount, CreateCMint,
       CreateCMintParams,
   };
   use light_ctoken_interface::state::CToken;
   use serde_json;
   use solana_sdk::{pubkey::Pubkey, signature::Keypair, signer::Signer};
   use std::convert::TryFrom;
   use std::env;
   use std::fs;
   
   #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
   async fn test_create_associated_token_account() {
       dotenvy::dotenv().ok();
   
       let keypair_path = env::var("KEYPAIR_PATH")
           .unwrap_or_else(|_| format!("{}/.config/solana/id.json", env::var("HOME").unwrap()));
       let payer = load_keypair(&keypair_path).expect("Failed to load keypair");
   
       let api_key = env::var("api_key")
           .expect("api_key environment variable must be set");
   
       let config = LightClientConfig::devnet(
           Some("https://devnet.helius-rpc.com".to_string()),
           Some(api_key),
       );
       let mut rpc = LightClient::new_with_retry(config, None)
           .await
           .expect("Failed to initialize LightClient");
   
       // Step 1: Create compressed mint (prerequisite)
       let (mint, _compression_address) = create_compressed_mint(&mut rpc, &payer, 9).await;
   
       // Step 2: Define owner and derive ATA address
       let owner = payer.pubkey();
       let (ata_address, _bump) = derive_ctoken_ata(&owner, &mint);
   
       // Step 3: Build instruction using SDK builder
       let instruction = CreateAssociatedCTokenAccount::new(
           payer.pubkey(),
           owner,
           mint,
       )
       .instruction()
       .unwrap();
   
       // Step 4: Send transaction (only payer signs, no account keypair needed)
       rpc.create_and_send_transaction(&[instruction], &payer.pubkey(), &[&payer])
           .await
           .unwrap();
   
       // Step 5: Verify light-ATA creation
       let account_data = rpc.get_account(ata_address).await.unwrap().unwrap();
       let ctoken_state = CToken::deserialize(&mut &account_data.data[..]).unwrap();
   
       assert_eq!(ctoken_state.mint, mint.to_bytes(), "Mint should match");
       assert_eq!(ctoken_state.owner, owner.to_bytes(), "Owner should match");
       assert_eq!(ctoken_state.amount, 0, "Initial amount should be 0");
   }
   
   pub async fn create_compressed_mint<R: Rpc + Indexer>(
       rpc: &mut R,
       payer: &Keypair,
       decimals: u8,
   ) -> (Pubkey, [u8; 32]) {
       let mint_signer = Keypair::new();
       let address_tree = rpc.get_address_tree_v2();
   
       let _ = rpc.get_latest_active_state_trees().await;
       let output_pubkey = match rpc
           .get_random_state_tree_info()
           .ok()
           .or_else(|| rpc.get_random_state_tree_info_v1().ok())
       {
           Some(info) => info
               .get_output_pubkey()
               .expect("Invalid state tree type for output"),
           None => {
               let queues = rpc
                   .indexer_mut()
                   .expect("IndexerNotInitialized")
                   .get_queue_info(None)
                   .await
                   .expect("Failed to fetch queue info")
                   .value
                   .queues;
               queues
                   .get(0)
                   .map(|q| q.queue)
                   .expect("NoStateTreesAvailable")
           }
       };
   
       // Derive compression address
       let compression_address = light_ctoken_sdk::ctoken::derive_cmint_compressed_address(
           &mint_signer.pubkey(),
           &address_tree.tree,
       );
   
       let mint_pda =
           light_ctoken_sdk::ctoken::find_cmint_address(&mint_signer.pubkey()).0;
   
       // Get validity proof for the address
       let rpc_result = rpc
           .get_validity_proof(
               vec![],
               vec![AddressWithTree {
                   address: compression_address,
                   tree: address_tree.tree,
               }],
               None,
           )
           .await
           .unwrap()
           .value;
   
       // Build params
       let params = CreateCMintParams {
           decimals,
           address_merkle_tree_root_index: rpc_result.addresses[0].root_index,
           mint_authority: payer.pubkey(),
           proof: rpc_result.proof.0.unwrap(),
           compression_address,
           mint: mint_pda,
           freeze_authority: None,
           extensions: None,
       };
   
       // Create instruction
       let create_cmint = CreateCMint::new(
           params,
           mint_signer.pubkey(),
           payer.pubkey(),
           address_tree.tree,
           output_pubkey,
       );
       let instruction = create_cmint.instruction().unwrap();
   
       // Send transaction
       rpc.create_and_send_transaction(&[instruction], &payer.pubkey(), &[payer, &mint_signer])
           .await
           .unwrap();
   
       (mint_pda, compression_address)
   }
   
   fn load_keypair(path: &str) -> Result<Keypair, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
       let path = if path.starts_with("~") {
           path.replace("~", &env::var("HOME").unwrap_or_default())
       } else {
           path.to_string()
       };
       let file = fs::read_to_string(&path)?;
       let bytes: Vec<u8> = serde_json::from_str(&file)?;
       Ok(Keypair::try_from(&bytes[..])?)
   }
   

Program Guide

Find a full code example at the end.

1. Define Rent Config Accounts

   use light_compressed_token_sdk::ctoken::CompressibleParamsInfos;
   
   let compressible_params = CompressibleParamsInfos::new(
       compressible_config.clone(),
       rent_sponsor.clone(),
       system_program.clone(),
   );
   

   	Protocol PDA that stores account rent config.
   	light token program PDA that fronts rent exemption at creation. - Claims rent when account compresses.
   	Solana System Program to create the on-chain account.

2. Build Account Infos and CPI the Compressed Token Program

   1. Pass the required accounts that include the rent config.
   2. Use invoke or invoke_signed, when a CPI requires a PDA signer.
      The light-ATA address is derived from [owner, ctoken_program_id, mint]. Unlike light-token accounts, owner and mint are passed as accounts, not in instruction data.

   invoke (External signer)

   use light_ctoken_sdk::ctoken::CreateAssociatedCTokenAccountCpi;
   
   CreateAssociatedCTokenAccountCpi {
       owner: owner.clone(),
       mint: mint.clone(),
       payer: payer.clone(),
       associated_token_account: associated_token_account.clone(),
       system_program: system_program.clone(),
       bump: data.bump,
       compressible: Some(compressible_params),
       idempotent: false,
   }
   .invoke()?;
   

   invoke_signed (PDA is signer)

   use light_ctoken_sdk::ctoken::CreateAssociatedCTokenAccountCpi;
   
   let signer_seeds: &[&[u8]] = &[ATA_SEED, &[bump]];
   CreateAssociatedCTokenAccountCpi {
       owner: owner.clone(),
       mint: mint.clone(),
       payer: payer.clone(),
       associated_token_account: associated_token_account.clone(),
       system_program: system_program.clone(),
       bump: data.bump,
       compressible: Some(compressible_params),
       idempotent: false,
   }
   .invoke_signed(&[signer_seeds])?;
   

   Owner	-	The wallet that will own this light-ATA. Used to derive the light-ATA address deterministically.
   Mint	-	The SPL or light-mint token mint. Used to derive the light-ATA address deterministically.
   Payer	signer, mutable	Pays initial rent per epoch, transaction fee and compression incentive. Does NOT pay rent exemption (fronted by rent_sponsor).
   light-ATA Account	mutable	The light-ATA being created. Address is derived from [owner, ctoken_program_id, mint].
   System Program	-	Solana System Program. Required for CPI to create the on-chain account.
   Bump	u8	The PDA bump seed for the light-ATA address derivation.
   Idempotent	bool	When true, silently succeeds if account already exists. When false, fails if account already exists.

Full Code Example

Find the source code here.

use borsh::{BorshDeserialize, BorshSerialize};
use light_ctoken_sdk::ctoken::{CompressibleParamsCpi, CreateAssociatedCTokenAccountCpi};
use solana_program::{account_info::AccountInfo, program_error::ProgramError, pubkey::Pubkey};

use crate::{ATA_SEED, ID};

/// Instruction data for create ATA V2 (owner/mint as accounts)
#[derive(BorshSerialize, BorshDeserialize, Debug)]
pub struct CreateAta2Data {
    pub bump: u8,
    pub pre_pay_num_epochs: u8,
    pub lamports_per_write: u32,
}

/// Handler for creating ATA using V2 variant (invoke)
///
/// Account order:
/// - accounts[0]: owner (readonly)
/// - accounts[1]: mint (readonly)
/// - accounts[2]: payer (signer, writable)
/// - accounts[3]: associated_token_account (writable)
/// - accounts[4]: system_program
/// - accounts[5]: compressible_config
/// - accounts[6]: rent_sponsor (writable)
pub fn process_create_ata2_invoke(
    accounts: &[AccountInfo],
    data: CreateAta2Data,
) -> Result<(), ProgramError> {
    if accounts.len() < 7 {
        return Err(ProgramError::NotEnoughAccountKeys);
    }

    let compressible_params = CompressibleParamsCpi::new(
        accounts[5].clone(),
        accounts[6].clone(),
        accounts[4].clone(),
    );

    CreateAssociatedCTokenAccountCpi {
        owner: accounts[0].clone(),
        mint: accounts[1].clone(),
        payer: accounts[2].clone(),
        associated_token_account: accounts[3].clone(),
        system_program: accounts[4].clone(),
        bump: data.bump,
        compressible: Some(compressible_params),
        idempotent: false,
    }
    .invoke()?;

    Ok(())
}

/// Handler for creating ATA using V2 variant with PDA ownership (invoke_signed)
///
/// Account order:
/// - accounts[0]: owner (PDA, readonly)
/// - accounts[1]: mint (readonly)
/// - accounts[2]: payer (PDA, writable, not signer - program signs)
/// - accounts[3]: associated_token_account (writable)
/// - accounts[4]: system_program
/// - accounts[5]: compressible_config
/// - accounts[6]: rent_sponsor (writable)
pub fn process_create_ata2_invoke_signed(
    accounts: &[AccountInfo],
    data: CreateAta2Data,
) -> Result<(), ProgramError> {
    if accounts.len() < 7 {
        return Err(ProgramError::NotEnoughAccountKeys);
    }

    // Derive the PDA that will act as payer
    let (pda, bump) = Pubkey::find_program_address(&[ATA_SEED], &ID);

    // Verify the payer is the PDA
    if &pda != accounts[2].key {
        return Err(ProgramError::InvalidSeeds);
    }

    let compressible_params = CompressibleParamsCpi::new(
        accounts[5].clone(),
        accounts[6].clone(),
        accounts[4].clone(),
    );

    let signer_seeds: &[&[u8]] = &[ATA_SEED, &[bump]];
    CreateAssociatedCTokenAccountCpi {
        owner: accounts[0].clone(),
        mint: accounts[1].clone(),
        payer: accounts[2].clone(), // PDA
        associated_token_account: accounts[3].clone(),
        system_program: accounts[4].clone(),
        bump: data.bump,
        compressible: Some(compressible_params),
        idempotent: false,
    }
    .invoke_signed(&[signer_seeds])?;

    Ok(())
}

Next Steps

Learn how to mint light-tokens