Meme coin creation platform pump.fun announced the launch of its investment arm, Pump Fund. The organization’s first initiative is the Build in Public hackathon with a $3 million prize pool.
According to the announcement, the unit’s goal is to rethink how early-stage projects are built and funded.
Its first initiative will be the Build in Public hackathon. As part of it, 12 projects will receive $250,000 each at a $10 million valuation. In addition to financial support, teams can also count on mentorship and expert assistance, the note says.
A key difference between this event and similar ones will be its evaluation mechanism. The pump.fun team said funding will go to the projects that can capture the most user attention.
To participate in the hackathon, a project must issue its own asset with a controlled share of supply of at least 10%. It is also recommended to create a page on the social network X (Twitter), stream on pump.fun, and actively engage with the community. Applications can be submitted via the link.
A wide range of projects are eligible, including non-crypto ones. The hackathon will run for a month. The application deadline is February 18, 2026.
Despite increased competition and significant volatility in the pump.fun token, the platform remains the leader in the meme coin launchpad segment. This is largely due to the return of streaming on the platform and its buyback program.


