Raydium Fires Back with LaunchLab as $2.5B DEX War with Pump.fun Explodes on Solana

Raydium, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) on Solana by cumulative volume, announced the launch of its anticipated token creation platform

Raydium, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) on Solana by cumulative volume, has announced the launch of its highly anticipated token creation platform, LaunchLab. The platform, which is now live, offers seamless on-chain token creation with direct integration into Raydium's automated market maker (AMM), enabling tokens to begin trading on the exchange immediately after launch.

This launch culminates months of speculation following early signs of the platform's creation last month. It marks a major evolution for Raydium, which had previously maintained a close working relationship with Pump.fun before pivoting to build its launch infrastructure. A few weeks ago, Pump.fun launched its own DEX called PumpSwap, signaling an intensifying rivalry between two major players in the Solana ecosystem.

Image Credit: Raydium

Reflecting on the partnership with Pump.fun, a spokesperson for Raydium commented: "We helped them get started and provided advice along the way, but ultimately they built their own launchpad and DEX from scratch. It's a testament to the collaborative and innovative spirit of the Solana community."

LaunchLab provides third-party platforms with the ability to set custom transaction fees and includes a referral program that rewards users in SOL for referring new traders to the platform. It is designed to be a one-stop shop for all token launch needs, offering both customizable and simplified launch options.

The platform offers two modes: a more complex launch feature that allows projects to tailor their launch parameters and a simplified "JustSendIt" mode for a quicker and easier launch. In the latter mode, users can launch a token and, once 85 SOL is raised through a bonding curve, liquidity will be automatically migrated to a Raydium pool, LP tokens will be burned, and trading will continue without interruption.

The process is advertised as "incredibly fast and permissionless," with no migration fee and minimal friction. The platform's trading fee structure includes a 1% base fee, with 50% going to a community pool, 25% to $RAY token buybacks, and 25% allocated for infrastructure and operations.

Creators can also choose to earn 10% of trading fees from their token's AMM pool after launch, aiming to incentivize long-term development and sustainability.

Furthermore, LaunchLab introduces a referral program that pays 10 basis points of swap volume to wallets that refer new users, automatically airdropping SOL to incentivize platform growth.

For developers, LaunchLab offers integrated token visibility across multiple terminals and apps, designed to streamline distribution from day one.

This launch is significant in the context of Pump.fun's PumpSwap rapidly gaining traction in the Solana DEX space.

Launched on March 20, PumpSwap showcases Pump.fun's move to take control of its trading flow, no longer needing to rely on Raydium for secondary market activity for meme coins that hit a $69,000 market cap.

Since its debut, PumpSwap has quickly become a powerhouse, handling $2.5 billion in trades last week alone, according to DeFiLlama, which also reports a 40% week-over-week surge from $1.8 billion. Cumulatively, PumpSwap has cleared nearly $100 million in trades.

Dune data reveals that PumpSwap recorded over 6.1 million daily swaps on April 12, 5.7 million on April 14, and had over 264,000 active wallets on that day. On April 14, the platform hit a record $417.8 million daily trading volume, generating $14.2 million in fees.

As competition in Solana's DEX space intensifies, Raydium's move positions it as a direct challenger in the token launch space, aiming to capture momentum from Pump.fun's viral success while reinforcing its own foothold in the ecosystem. It shifts from relying on external platforms to offering an integrated, fast, and permissionless launchpad directly within a leading DEX, giving creators and developers the power to control their token's journey from inception to trading.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will LaunchLab be compatible with other DeFi protocols and aggregators on Solana?

A: Yes, LaunchLab is designed to be open and interoperable with other DeFi protocols and aggregators on Solana. The goal is to create a vibrant and connected ecosystem where users can seamlessly access and utilize various DeFi services.

What are the implications of a decentralized launchpad on the broader Solana DeFi ecosystem?

A: A decentralized launchpad like LaunchLab could have significant implications for the Solana DeFi ecosystem. It fosters a more democratic and efficient system, reducing reliance on centralized entities and offering a broader range of options to creators and developers. This, in turn, could lead to increased innovation, lower barriers to entry for new projects, and a more engaged community.

Is LaunchLab a response to Pump.fun's new DEX, PumpSwap?

A