- PUMP token ICO launches on July 12 across major exchanges, but excludes U.S. and UK users.
- 33% of the 1 trillion supply will be sold in the ICO, with remaining tokens supporting community, investors, and platform growth.
- Leaks from Bybit and Gate.io hinted at a massive $600M raise, fueling speculation this could be one of the largest ICOs ever.
Solana-based token launchpad Pump.fun has officially announced the launch of its PUMP token via an initial coin offering (ICO) on July 12. The token sale will be available through the Pump.fun site as well as exchanges like Bybit, Kraken, KuCoin, MEXC, Bitget, and Gate.io. However, users from the U.S. and the UK will be barred from participating due to regulatory restrictions, including past warnings from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority.
Token Sale Details and Distribution Plan
The ICO is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. UTC on July 12 and will end on July 15 or once 150 billion tokens are sold. PUMP tokens will become transferrable within 48 to 72 hours after the sale concludes, likely by July 18. Of the 1 trillion total supply, 33% will be sold in the ICO, while 24% is allocated to community and ecosystem efforts, 20% to the Pump.fun team, and 13% to existing investors. The remaining 10% will support liquidity, livestreaming, an ecosystem fund, and the project’s foundation.
ICO Revival and Strategic Ambitions
Pump.fun co-founder Alon Cohen emphasized the return to ICOs as a way to “quickly distribute tokens amongst a really wide audience.” Cohen stated that the goal is to improve the sustainability and diversity of coins launched on the platform and to bolster the social aspects of meme coin trading—hinting at expansion into livestreaming and plans to rival Facebook, TikTok, and Twitch, all on Solana.
Speculation, Leaks, and Exchange Missteps
Prior to the official announcement, major exchanges accidentally leaked details. Bybit Ukraine posted and deleted the news ahead of schedule, confirming that European users may also face restrictions. Gate.io similarly published and pulled a $600 million token sale page that echoed details from Bybit. Despite the leaks, both exchanges have now issued formal confirmations of their involvement in the sale.
