Pump.fun, a Solana-based marketplace that is redolent of the anonymous social media platform 4chan on the Ethereum blockchain, has emerged as a significant competitor to the ongoing frenzy surrounding memecoins
In seven months, more than one million memecoins were generated.
Pump.fun has become the preferred platform for retail investors to establish and trade these tokens, as evidenced by the creation of over one million memecoins on the Solana and Blast blockchains since its inception in January 2024, according to a Bloomberg report.
Nevertheless, the report acknowledges that Pump.fun has been criticized for perpetuating the notion of cryptocurrency as a “gambling arena.” As reported by Bloomberg, the integrity of the tokens generated in the marketplace has been the subject of concern due to the “well-known” issue of “pump-and-dump” schemes in the crypto space.
While Pump.fun has garnered the interest of retail investors and even celebrities such as rapper Iggy Azalea, who launched her token Mother Iggy (MOTHER) on the platform, the report suggests that skeptics contend that Pump.fun allegedly perpetuates the perception of crypto as a “speculative casino,” thereby diverting attention from the technology’s true potential.
In addition, critics of tokens issued on the platform underscore that these currencies frequently lack utility beyond their meme status, which could potentially undermine the credibility of the broader crypto industry.
Is the SEC’s crackdown increasing the demand for memecoins?
Rachel Lin, CEO of SynFutures, a decentralized derivative exchange, notes that Pump.fun’s success indicates the “increased appetite” among retail investors for memecoins.
The CEO of SynFutures thinks that many retail investors, who are weary of traditional venture-backed token investments, are attracted to memecoins due to their perceived transparency and the potential for high returns. This sentiment is rooted in the belief that VC projects prioritize the interests of the venture capitalists and the projects themselves, which has prompted investors to pursue alternative investment opportunities.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recent assault on the industry and its approach to regulating crypto markets have also contributed to the rise of memecoins, which has influenced the preference of retail investors for memecoins.
Michael Selig, a Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP partner, elucidates that memecoins are in stark contrast to securities. Consequently, investors have purchased memecoins primarily to express opinions, participate in communities, speculate on the attention value of cat pictures, or for entertainment.
Pump.fun In Brief
Pump.fun purports to mitigate the risks associated with rug draws by offering a cost-effective and rapid method for individuals to launch memecoins.
During a podcast interview in March, the anonymous co-founder of the project, Alon, disclosed that Pump.fun enables users to financially share “funny content” with peers by providing them with a stake in the meme’s success.
Pump.fun employs an automated process that allows users to upload their preferred memes or JPEGs, a prevalent method of lossy compression for digital images, along with a name and identifier for the token. This process results in the immediate creation of a token for a nominal fee of less than $2.
The price of memecoins is determined by the platform’s mathematical model, which increases as more users acquire the token. It is important to note that new tokens on Pump.fun are generated through a fair launch method, which involves the immediate issuance of all tokens without presales, frequently at a fraction of a cent.
As of the time of writing, the price of Solana is $138, which is consistent with the price on Thursday. The token has been trading within a consolidation range of $131 to $144 for the past week.