Pump.fun Acquires Padre to Expand Trading Capabilities Amid Token Controversy

Pump.fun, the popular meme coin launchpad, has acquired Padre, an advanced multichain trading terminal, as part of its effort to attract more professional retail traders and strengthen its market presence. The company stated that the acquisition would help it “tokenize the world’s highest-potential opportunities,” leveraging Padre’s infrastructure to enhance trading activity and broaden its reach in the crypto ecosystem.

This marks Pump.fun’s second major acquisition following its purchase of a Solana wallet analytics platform earlier this year. The firm appears determined to evolve beyond meme coins and build tools that support serious traders while maintaining its growing ecosystem anchored by the PUMP token.

However, the move has sparked significant controversy. Padre’s native token, PADRE, has been declared obsolete, with Pump.fun confirming that it will “no longer have utility on the platform” and that there are no future plans for it. This decision caused PADRE’s value to plummet, leading to widespread backlash from the community and accusations of a rug pull. Investors expressed frustration over the sudden devaluation, arguing that Pump.fun failed to protect existing token holders.

Despite the uproar, Pump.fun insists that Padre’s trading features will continue to operate normally under its new ownership. Analysts note that while the backlash may temporarily dent the firm’s reputation, Pump.fun’s strong brand recognition and consistent activity could help it weather the storm.

The incident adds to a series of controversies surrounding Pump.fun, including allegations of market manipulation and hosting offensive tokens. Still, its rapid growth and bold expansion strategy suggest the company remains focused on scaling its ecosystem and capturing new opportunities in the evolving crypto market.