Raydium, one of Solana’s most dominant decentralized exchanges (DEXs), has officially launched LaunchLab, its brand-new token creation platform. The move is seen as a direct challenge to Pump.fun, the viral memecoin launcher that’s taken the Solana ecosystem by storm in recent months. LaunchLab gives users the ability to launch their own tokens quickly and seamlessly, while tying directly into Raydium’s deep liquidity pools—something Pump.fun users previously relied on before it launched its own DEX.
🚀 LaunchLab: Raydium’s Bold Counterattack
With LaunchLab, Raydium enters the token launch arena with more than just speed and accessibility—it’s offering customizable transaction fees for third-party platforms and a built-in buyback mechanism for its native $RAY token. Specifically, 25% of all transaction fees will be used to buy back RAY, introducing a fresh tokenomics strategy aimed at increasing demand and price stability.
This release couldn’t have come at a more strategic time. Pump.fun recently launched its own Automated Market Maker (AMM) called PumpSwap, cutting its previous dependency on Raydium. Previously, any token launched via Pump.fun would move to Raydium’s liquidity pools once it hit a $69K market cap. But with PumpSwap’s debut in March 2025, the rules of the game changed—Pump.fun now handles its own liquidity, and it’s growing fast.
🔥 PumpSwap’s Meteoric Rise
In less than two weeks, PumpSwap racked up $2.5 billion in trading volume, and less than a month later, that number skyrocketed to over $31.7 billion, according to DefiLlama. The explosive growth has left no doubt that Pump.fun is playing for keeps, rapidly cementing its role as a major force in Solana DeFi.
Raydium’s LaunchLab is clearly a response to this surge—a shot at reclaiming dominance by providing more robust, DeFi-native features tied directly into its ecosystem. With the platform’s extensive infrastructure already trusted by traders, Raydium is betting that LaunchLab will draw projects seeking greater exposure and liquidity options.
📈 RAY Token on the Move
The market reacted swiftly. Within 24 hours of the LaunchLab announcement, Raydium’s RAY token surged over 13%, hitting a price of $2.41 USD—significantly outperforming the broader crypto market. The price jump reflects growing investor optimism that LaunchLab could attract a wave of new token projects and re-establish Raydium as the go-to hub for token launches on Solana.
Analysts point to the 25% fee buyback feature as a smart move, adding utility to RAY and encouraging long-term holding. This, combined with Raydium’s native access to liquidity, could give LaunchLab a unique edge against Pump.fun’s more memecoin-driven appeal.
⚔️ The Battle for Solana’s DeFi Future
What started as a friendly partnership between Raydium and Pump.fun has now become a fierce rivalry. With both platforms aiming to dominate the token launch and AMM space on Solana, the coming months are likely to bring rapid innovation, ecosystem incentives, and possibly even more token launches with better terms for creators and traders alike.
Pump.fun, for its part, is also preparing to launch its own native token, which may further escalate the competition. Meanwhile, Raydium appears focused on strengthening the RAY ecosystem through LaunchLab and deeper DeFi integrations.
💡 Final Thoughts
Raydium’s LaunchLab represents more than just a new product—it’s a strategic evolution. By combining token creation, customizable transaction fees, and tokenomics that benefit RAY holders, LaunchLab is poised to become a powerhouse in the next wave of Solana-based DeFi projects.
Whether you’re a builder looking for the right place to launch or a trader watching for the next altcoin gem, this new phase in the Raydium vs. Pump.fun saga will be one to watch closely.