Key Insights:
Pump.fun has recently unveiled the Pump Fund, a new initiative designed to provide early-stage projects with financing. This fund, which aims to support open-source projects built on the Pump.fun platform, promises to help 12 selected teams with $250,000 each at a fixed $10 million valuation. The initiative officially launched on January 19, 2026, with a month-long “Build in Public” hackathon, signaling the platform’s commitment to moving beyond its reputation for viral memecoins.
Despite the positive announcement, market trends suggest that Pump.fun’s price may face downward pressure in the short term. On January 22, the token saw a modest 12.5% increase, reaching an intraday high of $0.0027, before stabilizing at $0.0026. However, recent whale activity has raised concerns. Data from Santiment indicates a significant decline in the number of whales holding between 10,000 and 1 billion PUMP tokens. The departure of these large holders often results in diminished buying pressure, leaving the price vulnerable to volatility driven by retail investors.
Whale movements have played a significant role in recent price trends. The reduction in the number of whales suggests a shift in market sentiment, with large holders possibly looking to exit or diversify their portfolios. This loss of support from high-value holders could lead to increased price fluctuations, as smaller retail investors are more prone to market sentiment-driven moves.
In addition to the shift in whale activity, technical analysis points to further downside risks for Pump.fun. The daily chart is showing the formation of a rising broadening wedge, a pattern typically associated with heightened volatility and potential bearish reversals. This formation is characterized by higher highs and higher lows within two diverging trendlines, suggesting an impending breakdown if the price falls below key support levels.
Source:TradingView
Key indicators such as the MACD and Chaikin Money Flow index are also showing signs of weakness. The MACD line is nearing a bearish crossover, while the CMF is close to dropping below the zero line, signaling a potential capital outflow from the asset.
Given the bearish technical patterns and declining whale interest, Pump.fun’s price could face further downside pressure. A sustained drop below the 50-day SMA support at $0.0024 could trigger a further decline, with the next support target being the December 24 low of $0.0016. This represents a potential 38% drop from the current price level.