Solana-based meme coin launcher Pump.fun is once again under legal scrutiny as U.S. law firms allege that some tokens on the platform violate intellectual property rights. The controversy escalated on February 5, when law firms Burwick Law and Wolf Popper LLP issued a cease and desist letter demanding the removal of specific tokens that allegedly misuse their names and logos.
A cease and desist letter is a formal notice requiring an entity to stop an alleged illegal activity to avoid further legal consequences. In this case, the law firms accuse Pump.fun of allowing the creation of meme coins that impersonate their brands without authorization.
The letter specifically demands the immediate removal of the Dogshit2 (DOGSHIT2) token and other similar projects, claiming they were designed to impersonate the firms and their representatives. The attorneys argue that these actions contribute to fraudulent market behavior, mislead investors, and could interfere with ongoing litigation.
Pump.fun enables users to launch meme coins instantly, often with little or no verification. This has led to the creation of hundreds of tokens, including some referencing Burwick Law, Wolf Popper LLP, and even Burwick’s managing partner, Max Burwick.
This legal action comes amid two class-action lawsuits already filed against Pump.fun, both led by Burwick Law and Wolf Popper LLP on behalf of investors.
The first lawsuit, filed on January 16, targeted the Peanut the Squirrel token, a meme coin that was allegedly an unregistered security. Plaintiffs claim that influencers artificially inflated the token’s value before it lost a significant portion of its worth.
A second lawsuit, filed on January 30, expanded the allegations, naming Pump.fun’s operator, Baton Corporation Ltd, and other key figures involved. The lawsuit accuses the platform of running a pump-and-dump scheme, profiting from excessive trading fees, and exploiting retail investors.
Plaintiff Diego Aguilar stated that he suffered losses after investing in tokens like Fwog and Griffain, which initially saw rapid value increases before crashing. The lawsuit further alleges that Pump.fun collected nearly $500 million in trading fees from investors while operating what some critics claim resembles a Ponzi-like structure.
While Pump.fun faces serious legal challenges, the case took an unexpected turn when community members analyzed Exhibit C of the lawsuit, which demonstrated how easily tokens can be created on the platform.
In a surprising twist, on-chain data suggested that a wallet address linked to DOGSHIT2—one of the tokens at the center of the legal dispute—matched an address mentioned in the lawsuit against Pump.fun. This led to speculation that Burwick Law or its associates may have deployed the token themselves to strengthen their case.
The controversy only fueled excitement around DOGSHIT2, with the meme coin surging over 170% in 24 hours, hitting an all-time high of $0.01437 on February 6—just hours after the cease and desist letter was issued.
Despite the mounting legal pressure, Pump.fun has yet to release an official response regarding the allegations or the cease and desist order.
The case highlights the legal gray areas surrounding meme coin culture, where fast-moving trends, viral hype, and regulatory uncertainties collide. Whether Pump.fun can navigate these challenges or face further legal action remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the wild west of crypto is far from over.
