Pump.fun, the go-to Solana launchpad for memecoins, just launched Pump Ventures Fund, its first real investment arm, along with a $3 million hackathon. Unveiled in mid-January 2026, the program is designed to support early-stage teams who can actually create interesting projects.
The 30-day “Build in Public” hackathon will select 12 winners, each receiving $250,000 at a valuation of $10 million. To qualify, teams must launch a token on Pump.fun, hold at least 10% of the supply, and show their work live via frequent updates and streams.
Some people in the Solana community see this as a real chance to wake up the ecosystem after months of quieter volume. Others simply ask: where is the airdrop?
when the release? @Pumpfun pic.twitter.com/j9E6Armwt2
—Kovni
(@KovniCrypto) January 21, 2026
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Pump Ventures Fund: A shift from memes to utility coins?
Pump Ventures Fund is designed to finance projects that go far beyond viral memecoins. Instead of judging based on big-name founders, it looks at live traction: the community support a project attracts in real time.
Teams must build openly, ship a token to the platform, and prove they can execute quickly and transparently. Applications opened on January 19, 2026, and the first batch of funded teams is expected to be revealed around February 18.
The entire setup is intended to reward real progress and user engagement while growing Solana’s developer scene.
Eligibility requirements
– Launch a token
– Build a project
– Own at least 10% of the token’s supply
– Build in Public: Posting on X, building a community, and streaming fun on Pump is HIGHLY encouraged
-Application via the form:– Pompe.fun (@Pumpfun) January 19, 2026
Why now? The timing is not random: Pump.fun’s trading volume fell sharply, from $11.75 billion in January 2025 to $2.43 billion in December 2025.
This slowdown pushed the team to evolve beyond pure memecoin launches and start supporting more sustainable projects. By offering funding, mentorship to founders, and a built-in token launch requirement, Pump.fun attempts to create stronger incentives for creators and bring more consistent activity back to the network.
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Not everyone is happy: are Airdrop’s hopes still alive?
The reaction from the community has been rather optimistic. Many see the Pump Ventures Fund as a sign that the platform is moving forward and trying to build something more sustainable. At the same time, a large number of holders are still laser-focused on the PUMP drop that was teased months ago, but still has no confirmed date or instant details. This delay keeps coming up in all discussions, even if the new fund attracts attention.
Users are curious about the delay in Pump Fun announcing the drop announced over a year ago.
Over the past year, Pump.fun generated $575.4 million in total fees, the equivalent of 3.42 million SOL, highlighting how profitable the coin launchpad has been during peak periods.
Daily trading volume tells a similar story. At the start of the year, Pump.fun was regularly seeing hundreds of millions of dollars in daily volume. Since then, volumes have trended downward, although periodic rebounds suggest continued interest rather than a complete slowdown. Business now appears more cyclical, driven by short bursts of hype rather than sustained momentum.
(Source: Dune)
On the user side, Pump.fun reached 28.7 million addresses in total, highlighting how widely used it has been in the Solana ecosystem. In total, more than 15.3 million tokens have been launched via the platform. Even today, daily activity remains notable, with around 1,600 addresses creating tokens per day and around 600 new tokens launched daily.
On the price side, PUMP saw a quick 10-11% rise right after the announcement, but couldn’t hold it off. As of January 21, 2026, it was trading between $0.00247 and $0.0027, down 2-9% in the last 24 hours.
However, it’s still showing some life: up about 6% over the past week and about 26% over the past 30 days.
Sentiment is neutral: a decline below current levels could test $0.0018, while a sharp breakout could target $0.0035.
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The article Pump Fun launches the Pump Ventures fund with a $3 million hackathon: Solana season returns? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
