> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kamino.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Create a vault
> Deploy a new Kamino vault — UI walkthrough plus SDK and CLI alternatives, with a complete post-creation checklist
This guide walks through deploying a new vault and completing the post-creation steps that make it production-ready. The conceptual background is in [How vaults work](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/concepts/how-vaults-work.md); this page is purely operational.
## Before you start
You'll need:
* A funded wallet with at least 1,000 lamports of the deposit token (used as the bootstrapping deposit at creation).
* The mint address of the deposit token (e.g. `EPjFWdd5AufqSSqeM2qN1xzybapC8G4wEGGkZwyTDt1v` for USDC).
* Decisions on: vault name, receipt-token ticker suffix, fee structure, operational parameters.
For SDK or CLI use, also have your admin keypair file path ready.
## Choose your interface
> [tab] UI
>
> ## Create via kamino.com/curators/vaults
>
> **1. Configure required parameters**
>
> Set the vault name, deposit token, receipt token name and ticker suffix.
>
> 
>
> | Parameter | Notes |
> | - | - |
> | Vault Name | Max 40 characters; editable post-creation |
> | Deposit Token | Immutable; determines available reserves for allocation |
> | Receipt Token Ticker | Format `kv[SYMBOL]-[SUFFIX]`; the prefix is immutable, the suffix is editable post-creation |
> | Receipt Token Name | Format `kVault [SUFFIX] [NAME]`; max 32 chars total |
>
> **2. Set fees**
>
> Configure performance fee and AUM fee. Both default to 0% and are editable post-creation. See [Yield & fees](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/concepts/yield-and-fees.md#manager-fees) for the model.
>
> 
>
> **3. Configure operational parameters (optional)**
>
> Set minimum deposit/withdraw/invest amounts, invest delay, withdrawal penalty, and crank fund fee. All are editable post-creation; the defaults are sensible. See the [parameter reference](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/reference/parameters.md) for definitions.
>
> 
>
> **4. Approved Reserves Only (optional)**
>
> The Create New Vault modal includes an **Approved Reserves Only** toggle. Enabling it activates both Whitelisted Reserves flags as part of the creation transaction — your vault ships with the smart-contract-level allocation restriction in place. **This is irreversible.** See [Concepts → Risk primitives](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/concepts/risk-primitives.md#whitelisted-reserves) before flipping it. If you don't enable it here, you can do so later via [Enable Whitelisted Reserves](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/guides/enable-whitelisted-reserves.md).
>
> **5. Submit the creation transaction**
>
> Sign with the wallet that holds the bootstrapping deposit. The vault address is displayed after the transaction lands.
>
> **6. Complete post-creation setup**
>
> Continue to the [post-creation checklist](#post-creation-checklist) below.
> [tab] SDK
>
> ## Create via TypeScript SDK
>
> > [!NOTE]
> >
> > The full vault creation flow including farm setup runs in three transactions. Use a private RPC endpoint for production — public RPCs are rate-limited.
>
> ```typescript theme={"theme":"css-variables"}
> import {
> createSolanaRpc,
> createSolanaRpcSubscriptions,
> address,
> pipe,
> createTransactionMessage,
> setTransactionMessageFeePayerSigner,
> setTransactionMessageLifetimeUsingBlockhash,
> appendTransactionMessageInstructions,
> signTransactionMessageWithSigners,
> sendAndConfirmTransactionFactory,
> } from '@solana/kit';
> import {
> KaminoManager,
> KaminoVaultConfig,
> getMedianSlotDurationInMsFromLastEpochs,
> } from '@kamino-finance/klend-sdk';
> import { parseKeypairFile } from '@kamino-finance/klend-sdk/dist/utils/signer.js';
> import { TOKEN_PROGRAM_ADDRESS } from '@solana-program/token';
> import { Decimal } from 'decimal.js';
>
> const adminSigner = await parseKeypairFile('/path/to/your/keypair.json');
> const rpc = createSolanaRpc('https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com');
> const rpcSubscriptions = createSolanaRpcSubscriptions('wss://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com');
>
> const slotDuration = await getMedianSlotDurationInMsFromLastEpochs();
> const kaminoManager = new KaminoManager(rpc, slotDuration);
>
> // 1. Configure the vault
> const vaultConfig = new KaminoVaultConfig({
> admin: adminSigner,
> tokenMint: address('EPjFWdd5AufqSSqeM2qN1xzybapC8G4wEGGkZwyTDt1v'), // USDC
> tokenMintProgramId: TOKEN_PROGRAM_ADDRESS,
> performanceFeeRatePercentage: new Decimal(15.0),
> managementFeeRatePercentage: new Decimal(2.0),
> name: 'MyVault',
> vaultTokenSymbol: 'USDC',
> vaultTokenName: 'MyVaultToken',
> // Operational params — defaults shown
> minDepositAmount: 1000,
> minWithdrawAmount: 10,
> withdrawalPenaltyBps: 1,
> withdrawalPenaltyLamports: 1,
> crankFundFeePerReserve: 1,
> });
>
> // 2. Generate creation instructions
> const { vault: vaultSigner, initVaultIxs: instructions } =
> await kaminoManager.createVaultIxs(vaultConfig);
>
> // 3. Helper to build, sign, and send a transaction
> async function send(ixs) {
> const { value: blockhash } = await rpc.getLatestBlockhash({ commitment: 'finalized' }).send();
> const signed = await signTransactionMessageWithSigners(
> pipe(
> createTransactionMessage({ version: 0 }),
> tx => setTransactionMessageFeePayerSigner(adminSigner, tx),
> tx => setTransactionMessageLifetimeUsingBlockhash(blockhash, tx),
> tx => appendTransactionMessageInstructions(ixs, tx),
> ),
> );
> await sendAndConfirmTransactionFactory({ rpc, rpcSubscriptions })(signed, {
> commitment: 'confirmed',
> skipPreflight: true,
> });
> }
>
> // 4. Tx 1 — create the vault and register farms
> await send([
> ...instructions.createAtaIfNeededIxs,
> ...instructions.initVaultIxs,
> instructions.createLUTIx,
> instructions.initSharesMetadataIx,
> ...instructions.setFarmToVaultIxs,
> ]);
> console.log('Vault created:', vaultSigner.address);
>
> // 4b. (Optional) Enable Whitelisted Reserves as part of the create flow.
> // This is irreversible — see Concepts → Risk primitives before doing it.
> //
> // const allocIx = await kaminoManager.updateVaultAllowAllocationsInWhitelistedReservesOnlyIxs(
> // new KaminoVault(rpc, vaultSigner.address),
> // true,
> // );
> // const investIx = await kaminoManager.updateVaultAllowInvestInWhitelistedReservesOnlyIxs(
> // new KaminoVault(rpc, vaultSigner.address),
> // true,
> // );
> // await send([allocIx, investIx]);
>
> // 5. Tx 2 — create and configure farms (Vault Farm + Insurance Pool farm)
> for (const farm of instructions.createVaultFarms) {
> await send(farm.setupFarmIxs);
> await send(farm.updateFarmIxs);
> }
>
> // 6. Tx 3 — populate the lookup table (optional, optimizes future tx sizes)
> await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 2000)); // wait for state to settle
> await send(instructions.populateLUTIxs);
> ```
>
> **What `createVaultIxs` produces:**
>
> * `initVaultIxs` — vault account creation + initial config
> * `createLUTIx` + `initSharesMetadataIx` — lookup table and receipt-token metadata
> * `setFarmToVaultIxs` — registers the Vault Farm and Insurance Pool farm addresses on the vault
> * `createVaultFarms` — array of farm setup instructions, run sequentially
> * `populateLUTIxs` — populates the lookup table
>
> The Autocompound Farm is configurable post-creation via the UI; SDK support is on the way.
>
> Continue to the [post-creation checklist](#post-creation-checklist).
> [tab] CLI
>
> ## Create via Kamino CLI
>
> > [!NOTE]
> >
> > Complete the [CLI installation guide](https://docs.kamino.com/build/cli/installation-setup.md) first. Commands require a `.env` file with `ADMIN` (path to vault owner keypair) and `RPC` configured.
>
> The CLI's `create-vault` command creates a vault with default settings. Use the SDK or UI for advanced configuration during creation.
>
> ```bash theme={"theme":"css-variables"}
> yarn kamino-manager create-vault \
> --mint \
> --mode execute
> ```
>
> Replace `` with the deposit token mint (e.g. `EPjFWdd5AufqSSqeM2qN1xzybapC8G4wEGGkZwyTDt1v` for USDC). Save the vault address from the output — you'll need it for every subsequent command.
>
> > [!WARNING]
> >
> > For testing, add `--staging` to use the staging program ID. Never use `--staging` against mainnet vaults.
>
> > [!NOTE]
> >
> > **Whitelisted Reserves cannot be enabled via the CLI's `create-vault` command.** If you want this protection (recommended for production), enable it as a post-creation step using the SDK or UI — see [Enable Whitelisted Reserves](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/guides/enable-whitelisted-reserves.md).
>
> Continue to the [post-creation checklist](#post-creation-checklist).
## Post-creation checklist
After the vault is created, complete these steps before it's production-ready. Run them in order.
**1. Transfer admin to multisig**
Move vault admin to a Squads multisig **first**, before any subsequent state-changing operations. Once transferred, every operation below flows through Squads as a proposal — which is the production model. See [Transfer admin to multisig](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/guides/transfer-admin.md).
**2. Configure allocations**
Without allocations, the vault has nowhere to deploy capital. Add at least one reserve. See [Configure allocations](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/guides/configure-allocations.md).
**3. Configure fixed-rate allocations (if applicable)**
If your strategy includes fixed-rate exposure, add allocations into specific FR reserves. See [Configure fixed-rate allocations](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/guides/configure-fixed-rate-allocations.md). Skip if your vault is floating-only.
**4. Enable Whitelisted Reserves**
Smart-contract-level constraint preventing allocation to unverified reserves. Required for Kamino UI listing. Skip if you already enabled it in the creation flow above. See [Enable Whitelisted Reserves](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/guides/enable-whitelisted-reserves.md).
**5. Set up the Insurance Pool**
Lock your skin-in-the-game capital and trigger Kamino's match (up to \$250K). Required for Kamino UI listing. See [Set up the Insurance Pool](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/guides/set-up-insurance-pool.md).
**6. Verify farms (only if your create path missed them)**
The Vault Farm and Insurance Pool farm are normally created during initialization on the SDK and UI paths. If you used the CLI or otherwise skipped farm creation, see [Configure farms](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/guides/configure-farms.md).
## What's next
> [card] [Configure allocations](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/vaults/guides/configure-allocations.md)
>
> Set how the vault distributes capital across reserves.
> [card] [Parameters reference](https://docs.kamino.com/curators/reference/parameters.md)
>
> Complete reference for every vault parameter.
This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.