The evolution of crypto launchpads: from PumpFun to Clanker and SunPump

In the crypto landscape of 2025, the creation of tokens has reached dizzying numbers: new launchpads like PumpFun, Four Meme, and SunPump have revolutionized the sector

In the ever-evolving crypto landscape of 2025, the creation of tokens has reached dizzying numbers, with new launchpads like PumpFun, Four Meme, and SunPump simplifying, speeding up, and making issuance accessible.

An Overview of Token Launchpads in 2025

If between 2017 and 2018 the available cryptos were less than 17,000, today – in March 2025 – they exceed 40 million, driven by Solana, Base, BNB Chain, and Tron. An exponential growth.

But how was this transition possible? Through the arrival of new launch tools that have reduced costs and made the process accessible to anyone: the so-called token launchpad.

Among the most relevant, we find PumpFun, Four Meme, Clanker, Zora, and SunPump. Each with its own characteristics, but united by the ability to accelerate the launch of memecoins and high-volatility tokens.

Launched at the beginning of 2024 by the incubator Alliance DAO, PumpFun has transformed Solana into the beating heart of the token economy. More than 75% of global tokens are hosted on this network thanks to this launchpad, which has made it possible to create over 13 million tokens in just one year.

The secret of PumpFun lies in its internal pool trading model with a bonding curve: token prices adjust in real-time based on demand and supply within the platform. When a token reaches a capitalization of $69,000, it is transferred to an external DEX (initially Raydium, now PumpSwap).

Furthermore, the introduction of PumpSwap has eliminated migration costs, allowing for more efficient liquidity management and rewarding token creators with a share of the profits.

Four Memes: the return of BNB Chain, Clanker and Bankr

In the context of BNB Chain, Four Meme represents the most successful attempt to replicate the PumpFun model. Born from the expert team of BinaryX and indirectly supported by Binance – with CZ and Yi He actively involved – this launchpad has brought attention back to BNB Chain after years of decline.

From the second half of 2024 to today, Four Meme has launched over 77,000 tokens. The mechanism is similar to that of its competitor. An internal trading system, migration to DEX (in this case PancakeSwap) once a capitalization of approximately 24 BNB is reached, and a zero creation fee. The platform accepts a wider range of exchange assets compared to PumpFun, with BNB as the main currency.

Thanks to collaborations with BNB Chain itself, Four Meme has managed to emerge as the dominant launchpad, leaving behind alternatives like Spring Board, GraFun, and Floki.

On the blockchain Base, the protagonism belongs to Clanker and its extension Bankr. Unlike the previous ones, Clanker originates as a bot on Farcaster, a decentralized social network: users can create tokens simply by mentioning @clanker. Subsequently, Bankr brought this functionality to Twitter/X, also leveraging l’intelligenza artificiale of Grok to automate the creation.

Clanker does not foresee internal trading: the tokens are placed on Uniswap V3 with unilateral liquidity, and the total supply is locked in smart contracts. The system distributes the commissions (1% per transaction) partly to the creators (40%) and partly to the team (60%).

With over 167,000 tokens already created and a peak of 10,000 new tokens per day in March 2025, Clanker and Bankr have established themselves as the main launchpads for those who want to generate tokens via social media in a few seconds.

Zora: from NFT culture to meme token and SunPump

Another emblematic case is that of Zora. Originally a NFT platform focused on the creator economy, it has recently shifted its mission by launching a launchpad for memecoin on Base.

The operation is centered on the publication of posts: each content automatically generates an ERC-20 token with a fixed supply of 1 billion.

Transactions involve a total fee of 2%, equally divided between liquidity pool and platform. Creators earn not only during buying and selling within Zora, but also through the fees generated by Uniswap pools. Anticipation of an airdrop and the involvement of important builders of the Base ecosystem have led Zora to quickly become a valid alternative to Clanker, although it is already subject to criticism for deviating from its original mission and the artistic roots that made it famous.

Finally, the Tron network saw the birth of SunPump, a launchpad supported by the team of Justin Sun. The mechanism closely resembles that of PumpFun and Four Meme, but adapted to the Tron context.

Launched in August 2024, the platform has already collected dust with over 95,000 tokens created and