General
Pump.fun vs. Raydium (and LetsBonk): An Intriguing Battle
- Raydium has recently unveiled its new memecoin creation protocol, LaunchLab, aiming to go head-to-head with Pump.fun in the battle for dominance in Solana’s memecoin space.
- At the same time, LetsBonk.fun (a decentralized memecoin launchpad developed by the BONK community) has joined the effort in collaboration with Raydium, adding even more momentum to the initiative.
- Now the big question is: Can these two platforms, LetsBonk and LaunchLab, dethrone Pump.fun as the leading memecoin launch tool on Solana?
Let’s take a closer look at both LetsBonk and Raydium’s new LaunchLab to understand what they bring to the table, and how their combined strengths might just be enough to challenge Pump.fun’s current reign.
Raydium Custom Token Launch Features
Raydium and LaunchLab Enter the Memecoin Arena
- The Solana ecosystem has a new contender in the memecoin space. Raydium, a leading automated market maker (AMM) on Solana, has introduced LaunchLab, a new memecoin creation protocol aimed at directly competing with Pump.fun.
- The launch of LaunchLab on April 16, 2025, marks a significant shift in the memecoin landscape, coming shortly after Pump.fun severed ties with Raydium by migrating its liquidity from Raydium’s pools to its own decentralized exchange, PumpSwap.
- With LaunchLab, Raydium is making a strategic move to reclaim dominance in token launches. The platform offers memecoin creators customizable bonding curves, zero migration fees, and the option to launch tokens for free. Moreover, token creators can opt to earn 10% of trading fees from the AMM pool after their tokens “graduate.” LaunchLab is designed to attract creators by leveraging Raydium’s deep liquidity and technical infrastructure.
A Race for Supremacy: Pump.fun vs. Raydium
- The competition between Raydium and Pump.fun reflects a broader battle for influence and market share in the Solana ecosystem. Pump.fun, once a major driver of Raydium’s revenue, preemptively launched PumpSwap to gain full control of its token ecosystem.
- This bold move paid off: PumpSwap reached $460 million in trading volume on April 17, breaking its own record for the fifth consecutive day.
- Raydium, however, responded with its own game-changer. In addition to LaunchLab’s flexible tools for token creators, 25% of transaction fees on LaunchLab will be used to buy back RAY, Raydium’s native token. This deflationary mechanism instantly boosted RAY’s value by 8% and pushed its market cap to $680 million. The strategy aims to reward RAY holders and create a self-sustaining growth loop.
- Despite Pump.fun’s dominance in volume and visibility, Raydium has one major advantage: mature, battle-tested infrastructure. LaunchLab’s native integration with Raydium’s pools ensures seamless liquidity, something that PumpSwap still struggles with due to its relative newness.
LetsBonk.fun Dashboard
LetsBonk.fun Joins the Battle
- Adding further momentum to Raydium’s challenge is LetsBonk.fun, a decentralized memecoin launchpad created by the BONK community in collaboration with Raydium.
- Officially launched on April 25, 2025, LetsBonk.fun is designed to simplify the token creation process, making it accessible even to users with minimal technical knowledge.
- LetsBonk.fun enables easy token deployment, leveraging Solana’s low fees and high-speed transactions. Its fee model includes a 1% swap fee and a small commission on post-migration volume, which are funneled into three key areas: platform development, network support via the BONKsol validator, and BONK buybacks and burns to support token value. A dashboard to track these activities is currently in development.
From Partnership to Rivalry: The End of an Era
- Until recently, Pump.fun and Raydium enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship, where tokens from Pump.fun were migrated to Raydium upon reaching a certain market cap. That collaboration ended with PumpSwap’s launch, forcing Raydium to pivot aggressively. LaunchLab isn’t just a copy—it introduces greater customization, allowing developers to fine-tune transaction fees and monetization options.
- The competition highlights the tension within a rapidly evolving Solana ecosystem. Both platforms are innovating rapidly to secure user loyalty, with Pump.fun planning to launch its own token and Raydium banking on its seasoned infrastructure.
Whether this fierce rivalry will result in long-term innovation or trigger another speculative bubble remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the battle for Solana’s memecoin throne has just begun.
And that ‘s it!
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Disclaimer:
This article is purely informational and does not constitute financial advice. We do not endorse or recommend purchasing any asset or participating in any project. Always do your own research (DYOR) and exercise caution before making any investment decisions.
