The past couple of weeks have not been easy for Pump.fun. Not only did it finally host its IPO, which many now consider a failure, but it has also lost significant market share to its rival, LetsBonk, in the launchpad wars.
LetsBonk has now become the preferred launchpad for degens, beating Pump.fun as well as other launchpads looking to capture mindshare.
LetsBonk cornered Solana meme activity throughout July. Source: Blockworks
Pump.fun has been on a downtrend since its IPO
Earlier this year and throughout most of 2024, Pump.fun enjoyed being the golden child in the memespace and for good reason. It was the pioneer memecoin launchpad and notably made it easier for degens to tokenize their meme ideas.
All that success may have made an IPO seem sensible, and Pump.fun also decided that one was necessary. The IPO drew significant attention, raising $500M in 23 minutes at a $4B valuation.
However, Pump.fun’s revenue and its PUMP token have been on a consistent downtrend since its public sale, according to data from Blockworks.
The IPO was a bold move. However, analysts suspect that the offering introduced Pump.fun to some challenges they have not handled very well. Factors that have influenced the downturn that has followed the IPO include regulatory pressure, the burden of public accountability, the community’s dissatisfaction with the platform, and above all, its rivalry with LetsBonk.
The platform’s transition into a traded entity seems to also be working against it, as the grassroots community that has supported the project now feels left out and unheard.
Did Pump.fun lose to LetsBonk?
Some claim the game is far from over, but there are those who believe a winner of the launchpad wars has emerged, and it is not Pump.fun.
Its rival, LetsBonk, currently stands more suitable to fill that position because while Pump.fun has faltered, LetsBonk raced ahead, securing 55% of Solana launchpad revenue according to data from Blockworks Research.
The toppling of Pump.fun’s dominance can be attributed to LetsBonk’s uncanny ability to capture attention and inspire support from longtime chads of the memecoin space. It built its foundation on the good reputation the Bonk project has garnered in the Solana space and combined it with a product that was user-friendly design, came with innovative features designed to give back to the community and keep the community engaged.
All those factors helped LetsBonk to distinguish itself as it was able to meet the growing demand for not just accessible and efficient launchpad solutions but also those that prioritized community.

LetsBonk cornered Solana meme activity throughout July. Source: Blockworks
As it stands, Pump.fun’s 24 hour launchpad revenue has fallen to around $231,000 while LetsBonk has crossed $1,000,000. LetsBonk also leads in launchpad volume with over $120,000,000 compared to Pump’s $12.4 million.
Furthermore, the number of tokens launched on the Pump platform has drastically reduced, with less than 5,000 tokens recorded as launches in the past day, a meager figure compared to LetsBonk’s launches, which now exceed 17,000.
In the meantime, other launchpads also continue to vie for market share, but none have been able to match LetsBonk’s current dominance.
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