Pump.fun Launches Investment Arm 'Pump Fund'
Cryptocurrency

Pump.fun Launches Investment Arm 'Pump Fund'

CoinTelegraph1h ago
3 min read
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Key Facts

  • Pump.fun has established a new investment division named Pump Fund to expand its ecosystem.
  • The fund's inaugural activity will be a hackathon designed to source and finance new projects.
  • A total of 12 projects are eligible to receive funding through this initial program.
  • Each selected project will be awarded $250,000 in capital.
  • The funding is being offered at a fixed valuation of $10 million per project.
  • This initiative marks a strategic shift for the platform into active venture investment.

Quick Summary

The memecoin platform Pump.fun has officially unveiled a new investment arm, Pump Fund. This strategic move marks a significant expansion for the company beyond its core platform operations.

The launch of Pump Fund is set to begin with a high-profile hackathon. This event is designed to identify and support the next generation of projects, offering substantial funding to selected participants.

The Launch Initiative

Pump Fund will kick off its operations with a dedicated hackathon. This event serves as the inaugural activity for the new investment arm, setting the stage for its future activities.

Through this hackathon, the fund will allow users to participate directly in the funding process. The initiative is structured to support a portfolio of innovative projects.

The scale of the funding is notable, with a clear focus on early-stage development. The program is designed to provide significant capital to a select group of ventures.

  • Launch of the new investment arm, Pump Fund
  • Initial activity is a dedicated hackathon
  • Opportunity for users to fund projects
  • Focus on supporting new and innovative ventures

Funding Structure

The hackathon is structured to provide substantial capital to a limited number of projects. The program will allow users to fund up to 12 projects in total.

Each selected project will receive a significant investment of $250,000. This funding is provided at a specific valuation, ensuring a structured investment approach.

The total capital allocated for this initial funding round is substantial. The valuation for each project is set at $10 million, resulting in a total potential investment of $3 million across the 12 projects.

The fund will allow users to fund up to 12 projects at $250,000 each at a $10 million valuation.

Strategic Implications

The creation of Pump Fund represents a strategic diversification for the Pump.fun ecosystem. By establishing an investment arm, the platform is moving from a purely transactional model to one that actively cultivates and supports the broader crypto ecosystem.

This initiative provides a direct pathway for developers and entrepreneurs to secure funding. It also offers the platform's community a new avenue for participation, allowing them to act as backers for emerging projects.

The focus on a hackathon format suggests a commitment to grassroots innovation. This approach prioritizes technical skill and creative potential, potentially uncovering unique projects that might otherwise be overlooked.

  • Diversification beyond core platform services
  • Active cultivation of the crypto ecosystem
  • New participation avenues for the community
  • Focus on grassroots innovation through hackathons

Market Context

The launch of Pump Fund occurs within a dynamic cryptocurrency market. Investment arms and venture funds are increasingly common as established platforms seek to support their long-term growth.

By allocating capital to new projects, Pump.fun is reinforcing its position within the industry. This move signals a long-term commitment to the space, extending its influence beyond the immediate scope of memecoin trading.

The structured nature of the funding—specifying both the number of projects and the valuation—provides clarity for potential applicants. This transparency is a key feature of the launch strategy.

  • Reflects a broader trend in the crypto market
  • Supports long-term growth for the platform
  • Reinforces industry position and influence
  • Offers clear terms for potential applicants

Looking Ahead

The launch of Pump Fund is just the beginning of a new chapter for the platform. The upcoming hackathon will be the first test of this new investment strategy.

Success in this initial phase could lead to further funding rounds and expanded investment activities. The industry will be watching closely to see which projects emerge from this initiative.

For developers and entrepreneurs in the crypto space, this represents a new opportunity for funding. The $10 million valuation benchmark sets a clear standard for what the fund is looking to support.

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Vinod Khosla is looking at this metric to gauge if we're in an AI bubble
Technology

Vinod Khosla is looking at this metric to gauge if we're in an AI bubble

Vinod Khosla says stock prices aren't the way to evaluate AI bubbles. Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images Vinod Khosla said he measures AI industry health by API calls, not stock prices or Wall Street trends. Debate over an AI bubble grows as investment surges and leaders like Bill Gates and Michael Burry weigh in. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang argues AI is driving a major shift in computing, not just market speculation. Vinod Khosla has his eye on one AI metric, and it's not stock prices. On an episode of OpenAI's podcast released on Monday, the famed venture capitalist shared how he's gauging whether we're in an AI bubble — or not. "People equate bubble to stock prices, which has nothing to do with anything other than fear and greed among investors," he said. "So I always look at, bubbles should be measured by the number of API calls." API, or Application Programming Interface calls, refer to the process in which one software application sends a message to another application to request data or to trigger an action. They are a common indicator of digital tools' use, especially with the rise of AI agents. High API calls can also be a mark of a poor or inefficient product. Khosla said the bubble shouldn't be called "by what happened to stock prices because somebody got overexcited or underexcited and in one day they can go from loving Nvidia to hating Nvidia because it's overvalued." The 70-year-old VC, whose notable investments include OpenAI, DoorDash, and Block, compared the AI bubble to the dot-com bubble. He said he looked out for internet traffic as a metric during the 1990s, and with AI bubble concerns, that benchmark is now API calls. "If that's your fundamental metric of what's the real use of your AI, usefulness of AI, demand for AI, you're not going to see a bubble in API calls," he said. "What Wall Street tends to do with it, I don't really care. I think it's mostly irrelevant." Concerns that the AI industry is overvalued because of massive investments became one of the buzziest themes in the second half of 2025. The phrase "AI bubble" appeared in 42 earnings calls and investor conference transcripts between October and December — a 740% increase from the previous quarter, according to an AlphaSense analysis. Top business leaders remain split about whether the bubble is about to burst. Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates said AI has extremely high value, but it's still in a bubble. "But you have a frenzy," Gates told CNBC in late October. "And some of these companies will be glad they spent all this money. Some of them, you know, they'll commit to data centers whose electricity is too expensive." Earlier this month, "Big Short" investor Michael Burry raised the alarm on an AI bubble in a Substack exchange. Burry wrote that companies, including Microsoft and Alphabet, are wasting trillions on microchips and data centers that will quickly become obsolete. He added that their spending has "no clear path to utilization by the real economy." Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has dismissed concerns of a bubble. His company became the world's first $5 trillion market cap company in October on the back of the AI boom. In an October Bloomberg TV appearance, Huang said that instead of overspeculation, AI is part of a transition from an old way of computing. "We also know that AI has become good enough because of reasoning capability, and research capability, its ability to think — it's now generating tokens and intelligence that is worth paying for," Huang said. Read the original article on Business Insider

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