Pump.fun, a Solana-based memecoin exchange, unveiled an upgraded trading terminal called "Pump Advance" while also teasing the release of a native token. 

The platform, primarily known for its memecoin launchpad, aims to attract serious traders with its advanced features and zero-fee trading for the first 30 days. 

Introducing Pump Advance

The terminal provides a main dashboard that includes live charts, top holder statistics, and real-time social activity threads. In addition, advanced filters allow users to navigate through the thousands of memecoins available, making it easier to identify potential opportunities.

A key feature of Pump Advance is its integration with non-custodial wallets through Privy, a decentralized authentication platform. This ensures that users maintain full control over their assets while trading. 

The first 30 days of the platform will feature 0% fees, providing an attractive incentive for early adopters. Although future fees haven’t been disclosed, the initial fee-free period is expected to drive user engagement.

Native Token and Airdrop Plans

Perhaps the most noteworthy part of the announcement is the upcoming launch of Pump.fun’s native token. 

Although no timeline has been provided, the platform has confirmed that a portion of the token supply will be airdropped to early users. This move is intended to reward those who have supported the platform from its early days.

The details of the token airdrop are still under wraps, but speculation has been rampant within the crypto community. Some analysts suggest that a well-targeted airdrop, particularly for top traders and key participants, could significantly boost liquidity. 

One airdrop farmer noted that if the token incorporates revenue-sharing mechanisms, it could greatly enhance its value and appeal to traders.

“We’ve been farming this project for a while. If they include revenue sharing for the token, it could be huge,” said Vex, a prominent airdrop participant.

Growing Transaction Volumes Despite Challenges

According to Dune Analytics, 98.5% of memecoins on the platform fail to make it to the listing stage on decentralized exchanges like Raydium. Critics have likened the platform to a "slaughterhouse," with traders having only a 0.12% chance of picking a successful memecoin.

Despite this, Pump.fun continues to thrive. On August 13, the platform generated over $5.3 million in revenue in just one day, outpacing the combined revenue of the 24 biggest DeFi protocols at that time. This growth is attributed to the increasing daily active addresses on the platform and a steady rise in new coin creations.

While the platform is gaining attention for its launch of memecoins, it still faces competitors such as Sunpump.

In the third quarter of 2024, SunPump drove the Tron blockchain's quarterly revenue to an all-time high of $151.2 million, according to Messari. Activity on SunPump picked up on August 16 and became exponential over the next two weeks. In the period August 16th to August 31st, over 270.3 million TRX were burned for $42 million, or nearly 27% of TRON's Q3 revenue.