Solana’s Pump.fun Revamps Fee Model to Foster Sustainable Memecoin Ecosystem
In a strategic response to the explosive yet often fleeting growth of memecoins on the solana blockchain, the popular launch platform Pump.fun is undertaking a significant overhaul of its fee structure. This pivot, moving away from its previous Dynamic Fees V1 system, is designed to shift incentives from short-term trading volume to long-term project development and creator retention. The original tiered model, launched under "Project Ascend" in September, successfully drove on-chain activity but failed to cultivate the sustained ecosystem growth that developers and the broader Solana network need for maturity. Co-founder Alon Cohen acknowledged this shortcoming, indicating that the new model will more directly reward creators who build engaged communities and deliver ongoing utility, rather than those who simply generate high initial volume. This evolution reflects a broader trend within the Solana DeFi space towards sustainability and quality, as the network seeks to leverage its high throughput and low costs to support more than just speculative assets. For investors and builders, this signals a maturation phase for Solana's memecoin sector, where platforms are aligning economic models with long-term value creation. As of early 2026, such foundational adjustments are critical for Solana to maintain its competitive edge and attract serious development talent amidst a crowded layer-1 landscape, potentially leading to more robust and investable projects emerging from its ecosystem.
Pump.fun Overhauls Fee Model Amid Memecoin Surge on Solana
Pump.fun, a Solana-based platform for memecoin creation, is revamping its fee structure in a strategic pivot aimed at content creators. The MOVE follows the underwhelming performance of its Dynamic Fees V1 system, introduced last September under "Project Ascend." While the tiered pricing model boosted on-chain activity, it failed to incentivize long-term project development as intended.
Co-founder Alon Cohen noted the existing model disproportionately favored low-risk token production over liquidity-driven trading—a misalignment for a platform where transaction users FORM the core ecosystem. The overhaul coincides with Pump.fun hitting peak daily token launches since September, signaling renewed activity in the memecoin arena.
The first phase introduces fee-sharing mechanics, though specifics remain undisclosed. The adjustment reflects broader tensions in crypto incentive design—balancing creator rewards with ecosystem health—as Solana cements its position as a memecoin hub.
Solana Tests $145 Resistance Amid Diverging Network Signals
Solana's SOL token surged past $140 this week, marking its sixth test of the $145 resistance zone since November 2025. Historical patterns suggest a 15%-16% pullback typically follows such tests, but the current 3%-4% dip hints at stronger bullish conviction.
Behind the price action, network metrics tell a cautionary tale. New wallet creation on Solana has plummeted from 30.2 million weekly in November 2024 to just 7.3 million—a 76% drop that threatens the sustainability of any breakout. 'Network growth fuels rallies,' observes Santiment data, 'and this engine is sputtering.'
The divergence creates a tension point: technicals flirt with breakout potential while on-chain fundamentals warn of exhaustion. Market makers now watch whether institutional flows can offset retail's retreat.
Sharps Technology Partners with Coinbase to Launch Solana Validator Node
Sharps Technology (Nasdaq: STSS), a medical device firm, has entered the digital asset space by launching a Solana validator in collaboration with Coinbase. The company will delegate part of its 2 million SOL treasury to the new validator, operated by Coinbase Institutional. This move positions Sharps among the first U.S.-listed firms to actively participate in Solana's network infrastructure.
Coinbase, a major player in Solana staking, contributes nearly 10% of the network's total staked SOL. Its validator infrastructure spans multiple global locations, ensuring robust participation. Other treasury firms like Forward and BitMine are also building validator operations, signaling growing institutional interest in blockchain validation.
Solana Tests $140 Resistance Amid Strong ETF Inflows and Surging Network Activity
Solana (SOL) consolidates NEAR a critical resistance level at $140, trading at $139.60 with 1.96% daily gains. The token's ability to hold above its 50-day moving average ($132) signals persistent buyer support, while its RSI at 60 suggests room for upward movement before overbought conditions emerge.
Market structure hinges on a decisive break above $140.50, which could propel SOL toward the $144-$155 range—a 12% upside potential. Failure to breach resistance risks a pullback to $131.53 support.
Institutional interest accelerates as Solana ETFs record 25 consecutive days of inflows, amassing $1.1 billion in assets. Network fundamentals strengthen with DEX volumes hitting $34.4 billion—the highest since November 2024—and weekly active users rebounding to 3.5 million, matching September 2024 levels.
