Memecoin Scams and Regulatory Scrutiny Impact Solana Token Launches

Solana’s token launch activity has significantly slowed down, with new token releases dropping to 49,779 on February 19, down from 95,578 in late January.

This marks the lowest launch count since early 2025. The decline follows a surge in memecoins, which, after gaining attention in January, are now facing increased scrutiny due to speculation and fraud.

Political figures like Donald Trump sparked the memecoin frenzy, but a scandal involving Argentine President Javier Milei further dampened the excitement.

Milei’s tweet about the Libra token, which he claimed was linked to Argentina’s economy, led to accusations of insider trading and a $251 million loss for investors.

Pump.fun, a key platform for Solana’s token launches, also saw a sharp decline, recording only 35,152 new tokens on February 19 and a drop in revenue to $1.69 million.

As memecoins face criticism, concerns are rising about their negative impact on the broader altcoin market, with many top cryptocurrencies hitting yearly lows.

In response, the U.S. SEC launched the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit to investigate blockchain fraud and protect retail investors.