From this week’s The Decentralised: Inside Pump.fun 💊
Burwick Law has refiled a lawsuit accusing Pump.fun, Solana Labs, and related entities of running a rigged, unlicensed gambling operation, citing thousands of private messages between founders and engineers. The suit argues that Solana’s priority fee system allowed insiders and bots to consistently buy ahead of retail users, framing the platform as a casino where outcomes were effectively predetermined.
Some messages appear damaging, including admissions that most users lose money, and claims from anonymous influencers that paid promotions and early access were common. Still, the case hinges on selective disclosures and hearsay, with limited evidence that Pump.fun executives personally profited. For now, the lawsuit raises uncomfortable questions about fairness and guardrails in memecoin markets, even if its criminal claims remain unproven.
More from this week's top stories:
→ Ethereum staking bottleneck breaks as long-running exit queue clears
→ Why did Monero just hit an all-time high? ‘We’ve allowed increasingly dystopian systems to exist’
→ Polygon rises 13% as blockchain’s developer unveils new stablecoin framework
From the land of DAOs:
→ PROPOSAL: Optimism proposes token buyback program
→ VOTE: CoW DAO votes on renewing grants program
→ PROPOSAL: Vitalik Buterin proposes bandwidth-efficient mempool system
[Sponsored] See how crypto is taking shape around the world. Read the Bybit World Crypto Rankings for a data-led snapshot of where adoption is strongest.
📰 Get The Decentralised delivered to your inbox every week.
Burwick Law has refiled a lawsuit accusing Pump.fun, Solana Labs, and related entities of running a rigged, unlicensed gambling operation, citing thousands of private messages between founders and engineers. The suit argues that Solana’s priority fee system allowed insiders and bots to consistently buy ahead of retail users, framing the platform as a casino where outcomes were effectively predetermined.
Some messages appear damaging, including admissions that most users lose money, and claims from anonymous influencers that paid promotions and early access were common. Still, the case hinges on selective disclosures and hearsay, with limited evidence that Pump.fun executives personally profited. For now, the lawsuit raises uncomfortable questions about fairness and guardrails in memecoin markets, even if its criminal claims remain unproven.
More from this week's top stories:
→ Ethereum staking bottleneck breaks as long-running exit queue clears
→ Why did Monero just hit an all-time high? ‘We’ve allowed increasingly dystopian systems to exist’
→ Polygon rises 13% as blockchain’s developer unveils new stablecoin framework
From the land of DAOs:
→ PROPOSAL: Optimism proposes token buyback program
→ VOTE: CoW DAO votes on renewing grants program
→ PROPOSAL: Vitalik Buterin proposes bandwidth-efficient mempool system
[Sponsored] See how crypto is taking shape around the world. Read the Bybit World Crypto Rankings for a data-led snapshot of where adoption is strongest.
📰 Get The Decentralised delivered to your inbox every week.
DL News
Pump.fun exec says ‘most lose’ on memecoin platform, lawsuit alleges
A lawsuit against Pump.fun and Solana executives has been refiled. It claims that executives orchestrated a wide-ranging pump-and-dump scheme. But the lawsuit provides scant evidence for those claims. Private messages show a Pump.fun founder saying most investors…
What's trending today with DefiLlama's custom dashboards?
Let’s see what the Gauntlet dashboard tells us (with data):
→ TVL up 8% over 30d; 69% growth on Base since January 1, Ethereum TVL down 50% from November highs
→ Token mix: USDT nearly eliminated, removing ~$750m from November ATH ($50m today); USDC +38% over 14d
→ December fees were half of November’s; cumulative fees total $34m
→ Top vault: GTUSDCP (Morpho, Base Chain) at 4.26% APY with $400m TVL
A risk-curation powerhouse second only to Steakhouse ($1.8b TVL), Gauntlet now holds nearly a $1b lead over third-place Sentora. Its share of risk-curator fees continues to grow steadily, while peers have largely stagnated.
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Nearly 700 custom dashboards have been created since DefiLlama launched the dashboard builder, and you can explore every one of them today for free.
Let’s see what the Gauntlet dashboard tells us (with data):
→ TVL up 8% over 30d; 69% growth on Base since January 1, Ethereum TVL down 50% from November highs
→ Token mix: USDT nearly eliminated, removing ~$750m from November ATH ($50m today); USDC +38% over 14d
→ December fees were half of November’s; cumulative fees total $34m
→ Top vault: GTUSDCP (Morpho, Base Chain) at 4.26% APY with $400m TVL
A risk-curation powerhouse second only to Steakhouse ($1.8b TVL), Gauntlet now holds nearly a $1b lead over third-place Sentora. Its share of risk-curator fees continues to grow steadily, while peers have largely stagnated.
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Nearly 700 custom dashboards have been created since DefiLlama launched the dashboard builder, and you can explore every one of them today for free.
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What differentiates DeFi vaults today is no longer access to yield, but how risk is defined, segmented, and governed over time.
In the State of DeFi report, kpk discusses curated vault design and the emergence of treasury-style asset management onchain.
In the State of DeFi report, kpk discusses curated vault design and the emergence of treasury-style asset management onchain.
DL News
State of DeFi: An interview with kpk
Our State of DeFi report shows that by 2025, yield in DeFi stopped being a problem of access and became a problem of control. Capital now moves across more assets, chains, and instruments than earlier cycles could realistically manage through discretionary…
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Join our X Space on January 27 at 10AM ET (3PM UTC) as we break down the State of DeFi report.
Featuring a stacked lineup with DefiLlama, Hemi, RedStone, Mantle, Katana, kpk, and Kyan.
https://x.com/i/spaces/1ZkKzZenjjDKv?s=20
Featuring a stacked lineup with DefiLlama, Hemi, RedStone, Mantle, Katana, kpk, and Kyan.
https://x.com/i/spaces/1ZkKzZenjjDKv?s=20
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A different approach to crypto savings is taking shape through indirect BTC backing via Strategy’s STRC.
Founder Travis VanderZanden explains how Buck structure shapes the Bitcoin Dollar and what that means for yield, governance, and long-term capital design.
Founder Travis VanderZanden explains how Buck structure shapes the Bitcoin Dollar and what that means for yield, governance, and long-term capital design.
DL News
Buck Founder on creating the ‘Bitcoin Dollar’ and reimagining crypto savings
We recently spoke with Travis VanderZanden, Founder of Buck, about his shift from high-velocity transportation tech to building a calmer, long-term savings infrastructure for the crypto market.
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Why has institutional capital remained largely on the sidelines of DeFi?
Sentora co-founder Jesus Rodriguez breaks down the structural, legal, and operational frictions holding institutions back, and what needs to change for DeFi to earn their trust.
Sentora co-founder Jesus Rodriguez breaks down the structural, legal, and operational frictions holding institutions back, and what needs to change for DeFi to earn their trust.
DL News
Sentora co-founder on the barriers preventing institutional capital from entering DeFi
We recently spoke with Jesus Rodriguez, Co-Founder and CTO of Sentora, about the barriers preventing institutional capital from entering DeFi and how his platform is engineering solutions for risk and insurance.
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DL Research
Join our X Space on January 27 at 10AM ET (3PM UTC) as we break down the State of DeFi report. Featuring a stacked lineup with DefiLlama, Hemi, RedStone, Mantle, Katana, kpk, and Kyan. https://x.com/i/spaces/1ZkKzZenjjDKv?s=20
After a full market cycle, DeFi's priorities were set in 2025.
Stablecoins, execution infrastructure, trading stacks, credit, and well-capitalised treasuries defined the year.
What does that imply for 2026? Join the State of DeFi X Space next Tuesday to find out.
Stablecoins, execution infrastructure, trading stacks, credit, and well-capitalised treasuries defined the year.
What does that imply for 2026? Join the State of DeFi X Space next Tuesday to find out.
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From this week’s The Decentralised: Scams push ETH txns higher⚠️
On January 16 Ethereum recorded more than 2.8 million transactions in a single day, the highest ever on the network, alongside a surge in newly created addresses. Researchers later found the activity was largely caused by mass address poisoning attacks that flood wallets with lookalike transfers designed to trick users into sending funds to the wrong address.
The episode highlights a double edged effect of Ethereum’s recent Fusaka upgrade. Lower fees and higher throughput made the network more usable, but also made large scale scam campaigns far cheaper to run, shifting the burden of defence toward wallets and user protections.
More from this week's top stories:
→ Vitalik’s ‘alternative web’: three apps keep original spirit of Ethereum alive
→ Paradex announces rollback after perp exchange users report mass liquidations
→ A16z Crypto wants DeFi to ditch ‘code is law’ for ‘spec is law’ to combat $649m exploit problem
From the land of DAOs:
→ VOTE: Lido DAO decides whether to reform its Rewards Share Committee
→ PROPOSAL: Debate on Optimism’s OP buyback plan continues ahead of January 22 vote
→ VOTE: Aave DAO votes on deploying Aave v3 to the Mantle blockchain
[REPORT] The State of DeFi 2025 is out; see what grew, what broke, and what's next.
📰 Get The Decentralised delivered to your inbox every week.
On January 16 Ethereum recorded more than 2.8 million transactions in a single day, the highest ever on the network, alongside a surge in newly created addresses. Researchers later found the activity was largely caused by mass address poisoning attacks that flood wallets with lookalike transfers designed to trick users into sending funds to the wrong address.
The episode highlights a double edged effect of Ethereum’s recent Fusaka upgrade. Lower fees and higher throughput made the network more usable, but also made large scale scam campaigns far cheaper to run, shifting the burden of defence toward wallets and user protections.
More from this week's top stories:
→ Vitalik’s ‘alternative web’: three apps keep original spirit of Ethereum alive
→ Paradex announces rollback after perp exchange users report mass liquidations
→ A16z Crypto wants DeFi to ditch ‘code is law’ for ‘spec is law’ to combat $649m exploit problem
From the land of DAOs:
→ VOTE: Lido DAO decides whether to reform its Rewards Share Committee
→ PROPOSAL: Debate on Optimism’s OP buyback plan continues ahead of January 22 vote
→ VOTE: Aave DAO votes on deploying Aave v3 to the Mantle blockchain
[REPORT] The State of DeFi 2025 is out; see what grew, what broke, and what's next.
📰 Get The Decentralised delivered to your inbox every week.
Shoutout to NPC for their review of DL Research on Ethos! We appreciate the kind words. 🤝
NPC is a brilliant mind and provides deep insight into DeFi's day-to-day. Give them a follow!
Ethos is an onchain reputation platform that decentralises trust in crypto by turning reviews, vouches, and slashing into a unified credibility score visible across the web.
Are you both an Ethos fan and DL Research enjoooyer? Give us your review here. 🦙
NPC is a brilliant mind and provides deep insight into DeFi's day-to-day. Give them a follow!
Ethos is an onchain reputation platform that decentralises trust in crypto by turning reviews, vouches, and slashing into a unified credibility score visible across the web.
Are you both an Ethos fan and DL Research enjoooyer? Give us your review here. 🦙
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Critical minerals markets still rely on opaque pricing, paper-heavy settlement, and concentrated buyers.
DLR spoke with SAGINT co-founder Mike Weeks about how tokenisation could improve traceability, pricing transparency, and market access for producers.
DLR spoke with SAGINT co-founder Mike Weeks about how tokenisation could improve traceability, pricing transparency, and market access for producers.
DL News
SAGINT co-founder on tokenising critical minerals and breaking monopsonies
We recently spoke with Mike Weeks, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of SAGINT, about the vulnerabilities in global commodity supply chains and how his platform is building a transparent, tokenised exchange for real-world assets.
Forwarded from DL News | News Feed
From Feb 4th to 6th, Digital Assets at Duke convenes regulators, researchers, and industry leaders in Durham, North Carolina.
DeFi correspondent Aleks Gilbert will attend on behalf of DL News, providing on-the-ground coverage from the heart of Blue Devil territory.
See you there!
DeFi correspondent Aleks Gilbert will attend on behalf of DL News, providing on-the-ground coverage from the heart of Blue Devil territory.
See you there!
The return of ETHDenver for its ninth edition comes as Web3 enters a defining year.
From Feb 17–21, builders, institutions, and policymakers converge in Denver to help shape the industry’s agenda for 2026 and beyond.
Here’s what to watch.
From Feb 17–21, builders, institutions, and policymakers converge in Denver to help shape the industry’s agenda for 2026 and beyond.
Here’s what to watch.
DL News
ETHDenver returns for its ninth edition, driving Web3’s global agenda for 2026
Founded in 2018, ETHDenver began as a local Ethereum meetup and has grown into a global gathering point for open-source builders and early-stage teams working on decentralized infrastructure.
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The HSC Asset Management Conference convenes in Hong Kong on Feb 12, bringing together representatives from Offchain Labs, Animoca Brands, Maelstrom, and more to discuss DeFi, RWAs, PayFi, and the infrastructure underpinning global finance.
Registrations now open. Click here to find out more.
Registrations now open. Click here to find out more.
DL News
HSC Asset Management Conference comes to Hong Kong: Connecting capital, founders and global finance
The HSC Asset Management Conference is coming to Hong Kong, one of the world’s leading financial hubs where East meets West and institutional capital converges with emerging technologies.
Forwarded from DefiLlama Official Round Up
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DefiLlama data is now one pip install away.
Introducing the DefiLlama SDK for Python.
This brings our APIs together in one library, making it easier than ever to integrate DeFi data into your workflow.
Introducing the DefiLlama SDK for Python.
This brings our APIs together in one library, making it easier than ever to integrate DeFi data into your workflow.
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🎙WE'RE LIVE!
Come join the llamas and a lineup of special guests as we discuss the State of DeFi.
https://x.com/i/spaces/1ZkKzZenjjDKv?s=20
Come join the llamas and a lineup of special guests as we discuss the State of DeFi.
https://x.com/i/spaces/1ZkKzZenjjDKv?s=20
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AI on blockchains has largely meant tooling. The ASI Alliance is arguing for something deeper.
SingularityNET CEO Dr. Ben Goertzel discusses decentralised AGI, the ASI Chain, and what breaks when AI remains vertically centralised.
SingularityNET CEO Dr. Ben Goertzel discusses decentralised AGI, the ASI Chain, and what breaks when AI remains vertically centralised.
DL News
SingularityNET CEO on the ASI Alliance and the future of decentralised AGI
We recently spoke with Dr Ben Goertzel, CEO and Chief Scientist at SingularityNET and CEO of the Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) Alliance, about the technical architecture behind ASI:Chain and how it differs from existing blockchain infrastructure.
Forwarded from DL News | News Feed
DL News
DefiLlama acquires OTC data purveyor Bulletin: ‘It’s a bit like truffle hunting’
DefiLlama has acquired OTC data provider Bulletin. Over-the-counter deals allow early investors to cash out before a company goes public. “It’s a bit like truffle hunting,” Bulletin’s founder said. “Even one ask or bid is quite precious.”
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Another day, another ATH for gold.
Onchain, things are still catching up, but at an accelerated pace.
Over the last 30d, liquidity for tokenised gold leaders Paxos' $PAXG and Tether's $XAUt rose 24% and 38%, respectively.
Together, they account for 98% of onchain gold usage.
Onchain, things are still catching up, but at an accelerated pace.
Over the last 30d, liquidity for tokenised gold leaders Paxos' $PAXG and Tether's $XAUt rose 24% and 38%, respectively.
Together, they account for 98% of onchain gold usage.