In a bizarre twist of developments in the cryptocurrency world, Pump.Fun has launched a new feature known as Pump.Fun GO, which presents users with the opportunity to earn rewards—albeit unconventional ones—by fulfilling various outlandish tasks. Among the more shocking challenges is the tongue-in-cheek request to storm a crowded university lecture hall, emit a flatulent sound using a megaphone, and yell “fartcoin” at full volume. Those daring enough to document their antics can receive a reward valued at around $1,000, paid out in the meme cryptocurrency known as fartcoin, which is currently trading at just over 10 cents and boasts a total market capitalization close to $130 million.
This new initiative operates on a unique bounty system where individuals can either propose tasks independently or pool resources with others to finance larger challenges. These bounties are held in escrow until the deadline expires, after which the rewards are disbursed to those who successfully complete the assigned tasks. If no participant completes the challenge, the contributors receive refunds, according to the platform’s guidelines.
However, the specifics surrounding the vetting of these bounties remain murky, as Pump.Fun has not clarified its moderation process for submissions or how collection claims are verified. The initial launch of GO included a range of strange bounties, such as parachuting into a World Cup match wearing a meme-themed costume, and even encouraged deeply controversial submissions, such as a task requesting a Black individual to adorn themselves with watermelon and recite the phrase, “I’m your friend, the watermelon man.”
The platform’s terms of service place the responsibility for all actions—including compliance with the law—squarely on the users. Additionally, it reserves the right to remove content, suspend accounts, and collaborate with authorities in instances of fraud or other prohibited behavior. Rewards through crypto transfers are also described as “not guaranteed,” adding another layer of uncertainty to the operation.
The introduction of GO comes amidst a significant decline in user engagement for Pump.Fun, raising concerns that the platform is fostering a culture of recklessness and potential abuse. Many bounties currently available have been met with submissions that rely on AI-generated images instead of authentic submissions, complicating the verification of completed tasks. Participants executing challenges face the risk of not being acknowledged, as selection criteria by Pump.Fun remain opaque.
An example of the confusing nature of these bounties is a seemingly simple challenge titled “Go to McDonald’s and get a burger,” which offers a $215 bounty. However, the payout splits among the first 20 valid entries reduces the reward to a mere $10.75 in crypto—less than what many will have spent on their meal.
Some existing bounties venture into more unsettling territory, with tasks demanding users get the names of various cryptocurrencies tattooed on their bodies for monetary rewards. One individual from India has reportedly tattooed his forehead for an equivalent payout of $3,000. Users can even earn approximately $100 by recording themselves begging for pills at a gas station or interviewing homeless individuals about their voting preferences for a bounty of $700. One particularly outrageous prompt invites users to quit their jobs on camera, offering $3,000 for what is characterized as a twisted severance package, encouraging “style, creativity, and chaos.”
Experts are raising alarms over the potential dangers posed by such bounties. Andrew Ford Lyons, a technologist engaged in digital security and human rights, argues that the platform is encouraging coercion and harassment, leveraging economic disparities for the sake of entertainment. “This is essentially what the digital economy is boiling down to,” he asserts, highlighting the implications of such initiatives in today’s digital landscape.
