Burn permanently destroys tokens by reducing the balance in a token account.
Burned tokens are removed from circulation and decreases the supply tracked on the mint account.
Only the token account owner (or approved delegate) can burn tokens.

Agent skill

npx skills add Lightprotocol/skills

Install orchestrator agent skill or view skill.md:

npx skills add https://zkcompression.com

Rust Client
Program

Compare to SPL:

Guide
AI Prompt

Prerequisites

Dependencies

Cargo.toml

[dependencies]
light-token = "0.23.0"
light-client = { version = "0.23.0", features = ["v2"] }
solana-sdk = "2"
borsh = "0.10.4"
tokio = { version = "1", features = ["full"] }

Developer Environment

In-Memory (LightProgramTest)
Localnet (LightClient)
Devnet (LightClient)

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());
}

Connects to a local test validator.

npm
yarn
pnpm

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

yarn global add @lightprotocol/zk-compression-cli

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

# 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(())
}

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(())
}

Burn Light Tokens

Find the source code here.

Instruction

use borsh::BorshDeserialize;
use light_client::rpc::Rpc;
use light_token::instruction::Burn;
use rust_client::{setup, SetupContext};
use solana_sdk::signer::Signer;

#[tokio::main]
async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
    // Setup creates mint and associated token account with tokens
    let SetupContext {
        mut rpc,
        payer,
        mint,
        associated_token_account,
        ..
    } = setup().await;

    let burn_amount = 400_000u64;

    let burn_instruction = Burn {
        source: associated_token_account,
        mint,
        amount: burn_amount,
        authority: payer.pubkey(),
        fee_payer: payer.pubkey(),
    }
    .instruction()?;

    let sig = rpc
        .create_and_send_transaction(&[burn_instruction], &payer.pubkey(), &[&payer])
        .await?;

    let data = rpc.get_account(associated_token_account).await?.ok_or("Account not found")?;
    let token = light_token_interface::state::Token::deserialize(&mut &data.data[..])?;
    println!("Balance: {} Tx: {sig}", token.amount);

    Ok(())
}

Burn Light Tokens

Open in Cursor

---
description: Burn Light Tokens
allowed-tools: Bash, Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep, WebFetch, AskUserQuestion, Task, TaskCreate, TaskGet, TaskList, TaskUpdate, TaskOutput, mcp__deepwiki, mcp__zkcompression
---

## Burn Light Tokens

Context:
- Guide: https://zkcompression.com/light-token/cookbook/burn
- Skills and resources index: https://zkcompression.com/skill.md
- SPL to Light reference: https://zkcompression.com/api-reference/solana-to-light-comparison
- Crates: light-token-client (actions), light-token (instructions), light-client (RPC)

SPL equivalent: spl_token::instruction::burn → Light Token: Burn

### 1. Index project
- Grep `light_token::|light_token_client::|solana_sdk|Keypair|async|Burn|burn` across src/
- Glob `**/*.rs` for project structure
- Identify: RPC setup, existing token ops, entry point for burn
- Check Cargo.toml for existing light-* dependencies and solana-sdk version
- Task subagent (Grep/Read/WebFetch) if project has multiple crates to scan in parallel

### 2. Read references
- WebFetch the guide above — follow the Rust Client tab
- WebFetch skill.md — check for a dedicated skill and resources matching this task
- TaskCreate one todo per phase below to track progress

### 3. Clarify intention
- AskUserQuestion: what is the goal? (new feature, migrate existing SPL code, add alongside existing)
- AskUserQuestion: does the project already have burn operations to extend, or is this greenfield?
- AskUserQuestion: action-level API (high-level, fewer lines) or instruction-level API (low-level, full control)?
- Summarize findings and wait for user confirmation before implementing

### 4. Create plan
- Based on steps 1–3, draft an implementation plan: which files to modify, what code to add, dependency changes
- Verify existing Rpc/signer setup is compatible with the cookbook prerequisites (light_client::rpc::Rpc, solana_sdk::signature::Keypair)
- If anything is unclear or ambiguous, loop back to step 3 (AskUserQuestion)
- Present the plan to the user for approval before proceeding

### 5. Implement
- Add deps if missing: Bash `cargo add light-token-client light-token light-client --features light-client/v2`
- Follow the cookbook guide and the approved plan
- Write/Edit to create or modify files
- TaskUpdate to mark each step done

### 6. Verify
- Bash `cargo check`
- Bash `cargo test` if tests exist
- TaskUpdate to mark complete

### Tools
- mcp__zkcompression__SearchLightProtocol("<query>") for API details
- mcp__deepwiki__ask_question("Lightprotocol/light-protocol", "<q>") for architecture
- Task subagent with Grep/Read/WebFetch for parallel lookups
- TaskList to check remaining work

Guide
AI Prompt

Find a full code example at the end.

Build Account Infos and CPI the Light Token Program

Use invoke for external signers or invoke_signed when the authority is a PDA.

invoke (External signer)
invoke_signed (PDA owner)

use light_token::instruction::BurnCpi;

BurnCpi {
    source: source.clone(),
    mint: mint.clone(),
    amount,
    authority: authority.clone(),
    system_program: system_program.clone(),
    fee_payer: None,
    max_top_up: None,
}
.invoke()

use light_token::instruction::BurnCpi;

BurnCpi {
    source: source.clone(),
    mint: mint.clone(),
    amount,
    authority: authority.clone(),
    system_program: system_program.clone(),
    fee_payer: None,
    max_top_up: None,
}
.invoke_signed(&[signer_seeds])

Full Code Example

View the source code and full example with shared test utilities.

#![allow(unexpected_cfgs, deprecated)]

use anchor_lang::prelude::*;
use light_token::instruction::BurnCpi;

declare_id!("2TXVn8AqjfyeJvmFBD3kHJmh6fWkC4HNB5T76BmLKV5c");

#[program]
pub mod light_token_anchor_burn {
    use super::*;

    pub fn burn(ctx: Context<BurnAccounts>, amount: u64) -> Result<()> {
        BurnCpi {
            source: ctx.accounts.source.to_account_info(),
            mint: ctx.accounts.mint.to_account_info(),
            amount,
            authority: ctx.accounts.authority.to_account_info(),
            system_program: ctx.accounts.system_program.to_account_info(),
            fee_payer: ctx.accounts.fee_payer.to_account_info(),
        }
        .invoke()?;
        Ok(())
    }
}

#[derive(Accounts)]
pub struct BurnAccounts<'info> {
    /// CHECK: Light token program for CPI
    pub light_token_program: AccountInfo<'info>,
    /// CHECK: Validated by light-token CPI
    #[account(mut)]
    pub source: AccountInfo<'info>,
    /// CHECK: Validated by light-token CPI
    #[account(mut)]
    pub mint: AccountInfo<'info>,
    pub authority: Signer<'info>,
    #[account(mut)]
    pub fee_payer: Signer<'info>,
    pub system_program: Program<'info, System>,
}

use anchor_lang::{InstructionData, ToAccountMetas};
use light_program_test::Rpc;
use light_token::instruction::LIGHT_TOKEN_PROGRAM_ID;
use light_token_anchor_burn::{accounts, instruction::Burn, ID};
use anchor_lang::system_program;
use solana_sdk::{instruction::Instruction, signer::Signer};
use test_utils::{mint_tokens, setup_test_env};

#[tokio::test]
async fn test_burn() {
    let mut env = setup_test_env("light_token_anchor_burn", ID).await;

    // Mint tokens first
    let mint_amount = 1_000_000u64;
    mint_tokens(&mut env.rpc, &env.payer, env.mint_pda, env.associated_token_account, mint_amount).await;

    // Call the anchor program to burn tokens
    let burn_amount = 250_000u64;
    let ix = Instruction {
        program_id: ID,
        accounts: accounts::BurnAccounts {
            light_token_program: LIGHT_TOKEN_PROGRAM_ID,
            source: env.associated_token_account,
            mint: env.mint_pda,
            authority: env.payer.pubkey(),
            fee_payer: env.payer.pubkey(),
            system_program: system_program::ID,
        }
        .to_account_metas(Some(true)),
        data: Burn { amount: burn_amount }.data(),
    };

    let sig = env
        .rpc
        .create_and_send_transaction(&[ix], &env.payer.pubkey(), &[&env.payer])
        .await
        .unwrap();

    println!("Tx: {}", sig);
}

Add burn CPI to an Anchor program

Open in Cursor

---
description: Add burn CPI to an Anchor program
allowed-tools: Bash, Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep, WebFetch, AskUserQuestion, Task, TaskCreate, TaskGet, TaskList, TaskUpdate, TaskOutput, mcp__deepwiki, mcp__zkcompression
---

## Add burn CPI to an Anchor program

Context:
- Guide: https://zkcompression.com/light-token/cookbook/burn
- Skills and resources index: https://zkcompression.com/skill.md
- SPL to Light reference: https://zkcompression.com/api-reference/solana-to-light-comparison
- Crate: light-token (BurnCpi)
- Example: https://github.com/Lightprotocol/examples-light-token/tree/main/programs/anchor/basic-instructions/burn

Key CPI struct: `light_token::instruction::BurnCpi`

### 1. Index project
- Grep `declare_id|#\[program\]|anchor_lang|Account<|Pubkey|invoke|burn|destroy|supply` across src/
- Glob `**/*.rs` and `**/Cargo.toml` for project structure
- Identify: program ID, existing instructions, account structs, token accounts
- Read Cargo.toml — note existing dependencies and framework version
- Task subagent (Grep/Read/WebFetch) if project has multiple crates to scan in parallel

### 2. Read references
- WebFetch the guide above — review the Program tab CPI code samples
- WebFetch skill.md — check for a dedicated skill and resources matching this task
- TaskCreate one todo per phase below to track progress

### 3. Clarify intention
- AskUserQuestion: what is the goal? (add burn to existing program, new program from scratch, migrate from SPL burn)
- AskUserQuestion: should the authority be an external signer or a PDA? (determines invoke vs invoke_signed)
- Summarize findings and wait for user confirmation before implementing

### 4. Create plan
- Based on steps 1–3, draft an implementation plan: which files to modify, what code to add, dependency changes
- Follow the guide's step order: Build BurnCpi struct → call .invoke() or .invoke_signed()
- If anything is unclear or ambiguous, loop back to step 3 (AskUserQuestion)
- Present the plan to the user for approval before proceeding

### 5. Implement
- Add deps if missing: Bash `cargo add light-token anchor-lang@0.31`
- Follow the guide and the approved plan
- Write/Edit to create or modify files
- TaskUpdate to mark each step done

### 6. Verify
- Bash `anchor build`
- Bash `anchor test` if tests exist
- TaskUpdate to mark complete

### Tools
- mcp__zkcompression__SearchLightProtocol("<query>") for API details
- mcp__deepwiki__ask_question("Lightprotocol/light-protocol", "<q>") for architecture
- Task subagent with Grep/Read/WebFetch for parallel lookups
- TaskList to check remaining work

Back to overview

Wrap and unwrap

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Reach out! Telegram | email | Discord

Introduction

Light Token APIs

PDA Accounts

For Other Use Cases

Learn

Resources

Burn Light Tokens

Prerequisites

Burn Light Tokens

Build Account Infos and CPI the Light Token Program

Full Code Example

Back to overview

Wrap and unwrap

Didn’t find what you were looking for?

​Prerequisites

​Burn Light Tokens

​Build Account Infos and CPI the Light Token Program

​Full Code Example

​Related Guides

Back to overview

Wrap and unwrap

​Didn’t find what you were looking for?

Prerequisites

Burn Light Tokens

Build Account Infos and CPI the Light Token Program

Full Code Example

Related Guides

Didn’t find what you were looking for?