Pump.fun, the popular Solana-based memecoin launchpad, is gearing up to launch its official token, PUMP, through an initial coin offering (ICO) happening this Saturday, July 12.
The announcement came on July 9 via Pump.fun’s official account on X (formerly Twitter). During the ICO, the platform plans to offer 15% of the total PUMP supply that’s 150 billion tokens out of a 1 trillion maximum to the public. Meanwhile, another 18% of tokens has already been snapped up in a private sale by institutional investors under the same terms.
Each PUMP token will be priced at $0.004, with no lockups or vesting periods, meaning tokens will be fully unlocked and tradable right from the start.
How to Participate in the PUMP ICO
To join the ICO, users will need to complete KYC verification either on Pump.fun’s official token website or through one of its partner exchanges, which include major platforms like Bybit, Kraken, Bitget, MEXC, KuCoin, and Gate.io.
The public sale will kick off at 14:00 UTC on July 12 and will run until either the full allocation sells out or until 14:00 UTC on July 15, whichever comes first. However, residents of the United States and the United Kingdom are excluded from participating.
What Will the PUMP Token Be Used For?
Although the exact utility of the PUMP token is still being fine-tuned, Pump.fun has hinted at potential uses like fee rebates, token buybacks, and incentives for creators on the platform.
Here’s how the token allocation currently breaks down:
- 15% for the public ICO
- 18% sold privately to institutional investors
- 24% dedicated to community and ecosystem initiatives
- 20% allocated to the team
- 13% reserved for existing investors
Mixed Momentum and Community Criticism
The ICO is arriving at an interesting moment for Pump.fun. While the platform has generated an impressive $720 million in fees since launching in January 2024 (according to Dune Analytics), revenue has recently been trending downward. Pump.fun’s market share has dipped below 60% as rivals like LetsBonk.fun gain traction.
In response, Pump.fun rolled out a version 2.0 update, introducing features like one-click trading and a new “movers” feed to help defend its market lead.
Yet, the decision to hold a token sale hasn’t been without controversy. Co-founder Alon had previously criticized presales as “scams,” a view some community members now see as contradictory given Pump.fun’s ICO plans. The situation grew even more heated when Gate.io briefly listed PUMP for pre-market trading before delisting it and refunding users, citing ongoing negotiations with the Pump.fun team.
What’s Next for PUMP?
Despite the drama, anticipation remains high for the token launch. An airdrop is expected shortly after the ICO concludes, and PUMP tokens are set to become transferable 48–72 hours after the sale ends.
As Pump.fun moves forward with its token plans, crypto watchers and traders alike will be keeping a close eye on how the launch unfolds and whether PUMP can live up to the hype.
