Pump.fun new fee overhaul sends creator earnings soaring 10x

The Pump.fun new fee model is reshaping the economics of Solana’s meme coin and streaming ecosystem, with creators reporting a tenfold jump in earnings within 24 hours of its launch. According to on-chain data from Dune, over $2 million was distributed to creators in a single day following the change which went up sharply from just $198,000 under the previous system.

Streamers on the platform see the revamped structure as a breakthrough, positioning Pump.fun as a challenger to mainstream livestreaming platforms like Twitch and Kick.

“Creator earnings over the last 24 hours have been wild, in a good way. Someone claimed $80,000. Creator rewards were pretty bad before,” — Adam Tehc, Dune dashboard creator, told Decrypt.

How the dynamic fee structure works

At the heart of the Pump.fun new fee model is a tiered structure that adjusts creator rewards according to token market cap. Token creators now earn between 0.95% per trade at market caps between $88,000 and $300,000, tapering down to 0.05% at $20 million. While high-cap tokens earn a smaller percentage, they typically benefit from greater overall trading volumes, allowing creator income to scale.

For smaller creators, the impact has been immediate. Rasmr, one of Pump.fun’s top streamers, saw his daily earnings rise from just $5.12 under the old model to $2,290 after the update.

“Token creators run the memecoin economy. I think better creator incentives will only strengthen their position,” Tehc said, calling the redesign “a step in the right direction.”

The new structure is part of Project Ascend, Pump.fun’s broader initiative to refine its economic incentives and expand creator opportunities.

From memecoins to streaming communities

Pump.fun began in January 2024 as a token launchpad fueling Solana’s meme coin boom. By mid-year, it had integrated livestreaming after viral campaigns on third-party platforms helped push token visibility. However, unregulated streams featuring stunts, drugs, and animal abuse sparked criticism, leading to a temporary suspension in November.

With moderation systems now in place, livestreaming has returned, and creators say the Pump.fun new fee model could accelerate the platform’s growth. The “Basedd House,” Pump.fun’s own content creator collective, is one example of how tokens and streaming are being integrated into community-driven ecosystems. One of its top members, Goon, has earned $9,400 in just three months.

It’s not only streamers who benefit. Token communities such as TROLL, which holds a market cap of $165.9 million, have generated more than $223,000 in creator rewards. In cases where original deployers abandon a project, community takeover teams can claim those fees, ensuring continuity in incentives.

Competing with Twitch and Kick

For small creators, the Pump.fun new fee model is opening doors that traditional streaming platforms often keep closed. Pseudonymous livestreamer Jytol said the change lifted his average viewership from four to 15 and boosted his daily income from $2.33 to $9.30.

“It allows normies and small creators like myself to be able to come into this space, start live-streaming with a very small community, and be able to make more money a month than a Twitch or Kick streamer does in a year,” Jytol told Decrypt.

By linking streaming income to token purchases rather than donations or subscriptions, Pump.fun offers creators a more direct and potentially lucrative earning model.

“The approach that Pump is taking to this is phenomenal. You can bid on the next Kai Cenat or Adin Ross and find them at a $10,000 market cap,” Jytol added.

Industry watchers note that while overtaking Twitch will take time, Pump.fun’s blend of crypto incentives and creator-driven content could carve out a new niche.

“With the marketing and community behind Pump.fun and crypto growing each year. It’s only a matter of time,” Jytol said.

A new chapter for creator economics

For crypto investors, the Pump.fun new fee model represents more than just higher payouts. It reflects a broader shift in Web3 platforms, where token economics and user-generated content are merging into self-sustaining ecosystems. By aligning creator incentives with trading activity, Pump.fun is betting that its community will not only grow but also become financially self-reinforcing.

Whether this model proves sustainable remains an open question. For now, though, Pump.fun has positioned itself as a case study in how fee design can transform user engagement and potentially disrupt established industries far beyond crypto.