Pump.enjoyable, the memecoins launchpad, has opened an funding arm known as Pump Fund and kicked off a public hackathon to seed early tasks. It put $3 million on the desk to again a batch of latest groups. Twelve winners will obtain $250,000 every at a $10 million valuation as a part of the primary program.
Market Pushed Hackathon Mannequin
Beneath the new planfunding will not come from pitch rooms or closed-door panels. In response to the platform, tasks shall be chosen largely by market exercise and neighborhood traction — actual token demand would be the predominant sign.
Which means groups are anticipated to construct in public, mint tokens, and present early person curiosity as a substitute of counting on conventional enterprise checks. Mentorship from Pump.enjoyable’s founders can be a part of the package deal.
At present, we announce the Pump Fund
It’ll advance the startup ecosystem on pump enjoyable by aligning itself with long-term tasks.
The fund’s first initiative is the BiP Hackathon which is able to fund 12 tasks with $250k @ $10m val, giving mentorship with pump enjoyable’s founders & rather more
— Pump.enjoyable (@Pumpfun) January 19, 2026
The Guidelines And The Playbook
Reports say taking part groups should challenge a token and disclose growth steps overtly. Some posts checklist particular mechanics: tasks are requested to maintain a share of token provide public and to let the market decide their momentum.
The hackathon format is supposed to make fundraising quicker and extra seen. That is an strategy that places a variety of energy into buying and selling exercise, which supporters say can reveal what folks truly need.
Bitcoin at the moment buying and selling at $91,055 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView
Shifting Past Memecoins
Pump.fun is signaling a shift. What started as a manufacturing facility for memecoins has been steered in direction of funding broader startup concepts. The transfer is being framed as a method to again early-stage tasks each inside and outdoors the token world, whereas nonetheless maintaining a powerful function for token mechanics.
However the platform has a previous that colours this announcement: earlier protection flagged safety incidents and authorized worries tied to memecoin launches and platform mechanics, which some observers say may make this venture-style push controversial.
Picture: Nairametrics
What Critics Word
Some critics fear the mannequin could reward short-term hype over sluggish, regular product constructing. Market-driven choice can amplify pleasure, and pleasure can fade quick.
Questions have been raised about how traction shall be measured and whether or not token-driven alerts can persistently level to long-term, sustainable tasks. Governance and transparency are already on watch lists.
Purposes are open for groups that desire a shot on the $3 million pool, with timelines given by Pump.enjoyable for choice and the primary cohort to be chosen rapidly after submissions shut.
The memecoins platform says it should provide capital plus hands-on help to winners, and the neighborhood could have a giant function in serving to resolve which concepts rise.
Featured picture from PYMNTS, chart from TradingView
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