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While Pump.fun’s rapid ascent to a $4 billion valuation after its $500M PUMP token presale has stunned the crypto market, scepticism is growing just as fast as the hype.

The Solana-based meme coin launchpad has gained popularity by making it easy for users to create and trade tokens instantly.

But its recently launched native token, PUMP, is now under scrutiny over its lack of fundamental utility.

While PUMP soared to a $0.00609 all-time high on July 15, its trajectory has already begun to reverse as concerns mount over its long-term sustainability.

With a market cap now hovering around $1.97 billion and trading volume topping $1.35 billion in the past 24 hours, investors appear active, but increasingly cautious.

BitMart Research recently highlighted a critical flaw in Pump.fun’s tokenomics: the PUMP token offers no governance rights, no staking benefits, and no revenue-sharing mechanism.

Despite a fully diluted valuation exceeding $5.5 billion, the token remains a “narrative-only asset” driven purely by brand momentum rather than any economic incentive to hold.

This narrative dependency has raised fears that the project may be more of a short-term hype cycle than a durable ecosystem.

Adding to these fears is the massive unlock of tokens that took place at launch.

According to data, 33% of the total supply (equivalent to roughly $1.32 billion) was unlocked for public sale at just $0.004 per token, creating intense selling pressure right out of the gate.

Furthermore, 20% of the token supply, worth an estimated $800 million, was reserved for the Pump.fun team, raising alarms among analysts and community members alike.

Commentators such as TheCryptoProfes have warned that this may be one of the largest team allocations ever recorded during a presale.

Absolute crackheads. Pumpfun are selling to the community at a $4b valuation, but are keeping $800m in tokens for themselves. They are paying themselves $800m. I shit you not, this is the BIGGEST team allocation I have ever seen on a presale, at the highest ever launch

With little to no lock-up period, the threat of team sell-offs looms large, which could destabilise the market during periods of low liquidity or bearish sentiment.

As PUMP faces challenges, Binance has moved to capitalise on the bonding curve model popularised by Pump.fun.

On July 14, Binance introduced its own token launch model using bonding curve mechanics through its Wallet, in partnership with Four. Meme is a meme-centric ecosystem.

Unlike Pump.fun’s open-access format, Binance’s version requires projects to apply and pass internal checks, adding a layer of quality assurance that many investors may prefer.

Participants must hold Binance Alpha Points and BNB to join, and once they place a buy order during a Token Generation Event, the tokens’ price rises based on real-time demand.

This system rewards early participation but locks BNB contributions until the event ends, preventing fast exits and reducing manipulation.

By combining live pricing with a curated listing model, Binance is clearly positioning itself as a safer and more predictable alternative for early-stage meme coin launches.

Despite the mounting criticisms, Pump.fun still enjoys strong brand visibility and support from major exchanges like Binance, Kraken, and KuCoin.

However, without meaningful improvements to its token’s utility or economic design, PUMP may struggle to maintain its early momentum.

Traders seeking long-term exposure will need more than branding to justify holding the token through market cycles, especially in a space where narrative-driven assets fade quickly.

Unless Pump.fun updates its utility model or introduces mechanisms that encourage sustainable participation, the gap between valuation and value may only widen further.

In a market that punishes hype without substance, Pump.fun’s next steps could determine whether it remains a headline success or becomes a cautionary tale.

The post Pump.fun token utility gaps curtail PUMP price surge appeared first on Invezz

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