Although the crypto world is rife with bizarre incidents, like people setting themselves on fire or engaging in other risky behaviors, Pump.fun’s recent decision seeks to bring some sanity to this chaotic space.
The Solana-based meme coin launchpad, Pump.fun, has indefinitely suspended its livestream feature following widespread community criticism over harmful and unsafe broadcasts. The platform, which gained popularity for allowing users to promote and celebrate meme coins through live content, found itself in the middle of a storm of controversy over disturbing activities streamed on its platform.
Since the livestream feature’s launch in August 2024, it has faced challenges with content moderation. Initially designed for lighthearted and engaging broadcasts around token price movements, it became a venue for inappropriate and dangerous behavior.
Reports included users threatening self-harm if their coins failed to meet certain financial targets; violent actions, such as an individual firing a gun during a stream to celebrate a coin’s price surge; and graphic content, including threats toward family members and staged suicide attempts.
One particularly shocking incident involved a streamer threatening to harm their pet if their meme coin did not hit a specific market cap, drawing widespread condemnation from the cryptocurrency community.
In a community notice issued on November 25, 2024, Pump.fun confirmed the decision to pause the livestream feature indefinitely. Pump.fun emphasized in the statement that user safety remains a top priority and acknowledged the need for more robust moderation systems.
The platform’s management stated that “to ensure the absolute safety of our users, we will be pausing the live streaming functionality on the site for an indefinite time period until the moderation infrastructure is ready to deal with the heightened levels of activity.”
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Pump.fun also pledged to increase transparency around moderation decisions, aiming to rebuild trust among its user base. The incidents highlight a broader issue faced by platforms offering live video features: balancing user-generated content with the need for safety and accountability.
Pump.fun’s moderation team, despite active efforts to filter illicit material, was overwhelmed by the volume and severity of incidents. The platform plans to improve its moderation tools, ensuring stricter content control and user education on acceptable behavior.
The cryptocurrency community was vocal about the platform’s lack of sufficient safeguards. A notable voice in the outcry was Beau, a safety manager for Pudgy Penguins, who publicly called for the livestream feature’s immediate removal. In response, Pump.fun has committed to re-evaluating its content strategy while working closely with safety experts to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The feature’s suspension comes at a crucial growth phase for the platform, even as the market shows a bullish trend with Bitcoin racing towards $100,000.
