Pump.fun Fires 40 Employees Weeks Before $86M PUMP Token Unlock

Pump.fun, a Solana-based memecoin launchpad, has been at the center of controversy after laying off over 40 employees in two rounds just weeks before their PUMP token grants were set to vest. According to an investigative report by Sandmark, the first layoff wave occurred in April 2026, and the second one took place in mid-July.

Workers who lost their jobs reportedly forfeited tokens worth millions of dollars when they were supposed to vest in June 2026. The timing has raised concerns about employee compensation policies, particularly as crypto firms increasingly rely on equity- or token-based incentives.

Pump.fun generated a daily income of around $1 million and a total income of $1.3 billion so far, making it one of Solana's highest-revenue applications. Despite the reported layoffs, the PUMP token posted gains when the news surfaced, rising 9.34% over 24 hours with daily trading volume reaching approximately $187 million.