Solana co-founder sees Pump.fun vs TikTok battle coming

Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko predicted a rivalry between TikTok and Pump.fun on September 30, shortly after crypto media brand Unchained announced it would stream shows on the Solana-based platform.

"The next social network war is going to be TikTok vs Pump," Yakovenko wrote on X on September 30. His statement came days after Unchained's founder Laura Shin announced on September 29 that the podcast would begin livestreaming episodes on Pump.fun.

Pump.fun launched as a memecoin creation platform on Solana and added livestreaming features in 2024. The platform lets creators broadcast while linking their streams to tokens and collecting fees from viewers. The feature was paused in late 2024 over safety issues and returned in 2025 with updated moderation rules.

Unchained set up a channel on Pump.fun as part of its distribution strategy. The podcast produces shows about cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Shin announced the expansion on X, stating "We'll now be live streaming episodes on Pump.fun."

Pump.fun's livestreaming feature saw renewed activity in mid-September 2025, with reports noting increased creator payouts and more regular programming. The platform combines video broadcasts with its existing token launch infrastructure, allowing creators to monetize through viewer participation in token markets.

Related: Pump.Fun Shuts Down Live Streaming After Trash Stream Surge

The exchange between Yakovenko and responses to Unchained's announcement took place on X and Pump.fun between September 29 and 30. Yakovenko did not elaborate on specific metrics or features that would enable competition with TikTok's established user base and content format.

Pump.fun has not released official user numbers or streaming viewership data for 2025. The platform's original focus remains memecoin creation, with livestreaming operating as an additional feature rather than its primary function.

Anatoly Yakovenko predicts TikTok vs Pump.fun social network war