- Raydium launches LaunchLab, offering flexible token launch options with customizable pricing models to compete with PumpFun in the Solana ecosystem.
- PumpFun faces declining investor interest and revenue, while LaunchLab emerges as an alternative, aiming to attract developers with greater customization.
One of the biggest DeFi platforms in the Solana ecosystem, Raydium, revealed LaunchLab, a new token launch platform. The move has drawn interest among the crypto community since LaunchLab apparently resembles PumpFun, the portal originally dominating the memecoin token market on Solana.
JUST IN: Raydium set to launch token launchpad called LaunchLab, that will initially resemble a direct fork of PumpFun. pic.twitter.com/mlmWuN33dk
— Whale Insider (@WhaleInsider) March 18, 2025
PumpFun Faces Declining Interest as Token Graduation Rates Drop
PumpFun has become a go-to choice for new projects looking to release their tokens fast and free from complex legal obstacles in recent months. Still, things have changed fundamentally since February 2025.
Data from Dune Analytics shows that, following four straight weeks starting February 17, 2025, the token “graduation” rate on PumpFun—that is, tokens that successfully pass the incubation phase and become totally trading on the Solana DEX—has dipped below 1%. Stated differently, investors seem to be disinterested in the platform’s presented model.
Moreover, a March 19, 2025, analysis revealed that the daily income of PumpFun had plummeted sharply by 95% over the last month. They were still registering daily revenues of about 12,000 SOL (about $2 million in February), but in March their figure decreased drastically to barely 1,000 SOL (about $100,000).
Raydium Introduces Customization and Flexibility with LaunchLab
Raydium saw a chance to offer a more flexible alternative with LaunchLab among PumpFun’s diminishing performance. They not only replicated the existing features but also provided more customizing choices for projects wishing to release their tokens.
The option to select from a range of price models—including linear, exponential, and logarithmic bonding curves—introduced was one intriguing aspect.
LaunchLab also lets third-party users create their own fee structures, providing projects greater control in choosing their launch approach. LaunchLab seems to aim to reach more developers who were once reluctant to use the PumpFun model owing to its system limitations using this more open method.
Strategic Timing: LaunchLab Enters as PumpFun Faces Uncertainty
Launching LaunchLab seems to be exactly timed. While PumpFun battles to remain relevant, Raydium has acted aggressively to close a market gap. Fascinatingly, Raydium’s decision to launch LaunchLab was also impacted by news that PumpFun is creating its own AMM, as we previously reported, therefore reducing their reliance on the liquidity supplied by Raydium.
This results in a direct conflict between two main stakeholders in the Solana ecosystem, therefore driving two different outcomes. Should LaunchLab be successful in attract new projects, the dominance of PumpFun may be progressively undermined.
Opportunity or Just Another PumpFun?
Specifically on Solana, the crypto community has responded differently to this news. While some hope LaunchLab would generate more chances for new projects to thrive, others are dubious the platform will really provide anything better than PumpFun.
Meanwhile, as of press time, RAY is swapped hands at about $1.94, up 3.77% over the last 24 hours and 23.05% over the last 7 days.
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