Pump.fun’s new GO bounty feature is facing fresh criticism after reports said users completed or posted tasks involving tattoos, public humiliation and high-risk stunts for crypto rewards.
Summary
- Pump.fun’s GO feature has paid over $370,000 while hundreds of bounties remain open online.
- Reported tasks range from charity actions to forehead tattoos, job quitting videos and risky stunts.
- Critics say crypto rewards can pressure vulnerable users into unsafe or humiliating public behavior online.
The Solana meme coin launchpad introduced GO in early June as a marketplace where users can create paid tasks and lock rewards in escrow.
According to the New York Post, the feature has paid out more than $370,000 since June 4. The report said about 270 open bounties still offered more than $200,000 in rewards, with some tasks ranging from charity actions to stunts that critics called unsafe or degrading.
How the GO bounty feature works
As previously reported by crypto.news, Pump.fun launched GO as a bounty marketplace with more than 320 active tasks and $144,000 in unclaimed rewards shortly after going live. Users could connect an X account and crypto wallet, then post or complete tasks for payouts starting at $5.
Pump.fun promoted the feature with the phrase “Pay ANYONE to do ANYTHING.” Bankless reported that rewards sit in escrow until Pump.fun reviews a submission, and that the platform has final authority over approval, rejection or cancellation.
Reports point to strange and risky tasks
The New York Post reported that one man in the Philippines received $15,000 in crypto after tattooing “bounty.fun” on his forehead. Other listings reportedly included putting a face in a toilet, quitting a job on camera and climbing Mount Everest for a large reward.
Some listed tasks were harmless, including feeding stray animals or donating clothes. Others raised safety and dignity concerns. Wired reported that several bounties pushed people toward embarrassment, harassment or possible legal risk, while some submissions appeared to use AI-generated images as proof. Wired also noted that payouts can be split among several entries.
Public criticism grows
New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the platform on X, calling it a “dystopian nightmare” and saying she would support the first bill introduced to ban it. X head of product Nikita Bier also criticized the feature, saying it showed people using money to push others into shameful acts.
The concern is not only about strange internet behavior. Critics argue that crypto rewards can put pressure on people with fewer resources to accept tasks they might otherwise avoid. Pump.fun warns users that participation is at their own risk, according to the New York Post. The company did not immediately comment to the outlet.
Earlier Pump.fun controversy adds context
The backlash follows earlier concerns around Pump.fun’s livestreaming tools. crypto.news reported that Pump.fun had shut down livestreaming after users became more extreme in how they tried to attract attention. The feature later returned with stricter moderation.
The Defiant reported that GO drew backlash within hours of launch after an extreme listing appeared on the platform. The report said GO gives Pump.fun sole authority to accept or reject tasks and submissions, while its public rules still leave many decisions to platform review.
Pump.fun remains one of the most watched meme coin platforms on Solana. Its GO feature now places the company in a wider debate over crypto incentives, user safety and online attention markets. The platform’s next steps may depend on how it handles moderation and public pressure. It may also face closer scrutiny from policymakers and consumer advocates.
