Pumpfun launches DeFi lending platform to finance memecoin purchases
Pump.fun, the Solana-based launchpad behind a wave of viral token launches, introduced a new onchain lending protocol that lets users borrow crypto to buy memecoins and NFTs.
The platform, called Pump.Fi, will allow buyers to pay just one-third upfront and finance the rest over 60 days, giving retail traders a new way to access speculative digital assets.
Pump.fun built its reputation by simplifying the token launch process and attracting massive retail attention. Now, it aims to reignite momentum and outpace rising competition by letting users trade with borrowed funds.
Buy-Now, Pay-Later
Pump.Fi will let buyers pay 33% of an asset’s value at purchase and defer the remaining payment over two months or 60 days.
The protocol also introduced a debt marketplace where lenders can purchase and trade loan positions. Pump.fun skips credit checks and doesn’t require full collateral, making the offering accessible but potentially risk-laden.
The company has not disclosed how it enforces repayment or manages default risk. Despite that, Pump.fun believes the model will attract new users and increase trading volumes across the memecoin and NFT sectors.
Memecoin activity on Solana recently declined following high-profile incidents like the failed LIBRA launch. However, data from Dune Analytics shows a modest recovery in volume. Pump.fun wants to capture that rebound by offering a new financial tool designed to unlock user demand.
PumpSwap
On March 20, Pump.fun launched PumpSwap, a DEX that now handles trading for tokens that succeed on its launchpad. It has also launched a mobile app and is eyeing other expansions following its exponential growth
PumpSwap streamlines the token lifecycle, reduces user fees, and gives the project tighter control over its liquidity ecosystem. Pump.fun reported that the DEX already captures over 10% of Solana’s DEX volume.
According to DefiLlama, it also led the network in daily fees on April 1, generating nearly $4 million. The platform recently said it plans to distribute a share of trading fees to coin creators, aiming to reward builders and boost platform loyalty.
Rivals like Raydium, which plans to launch its own memecoin incubator, and newcomers such as Daos.fun, GoFundMeme, and Pumpkin continue to compete for market share.
Pump.fun hopes that its integrated approach, combining token launches, trading, and now lending, will give it an edge in a crowded and fast-moving space.
