The second round of the Web3 livestreaming track begins: If PumpFun is Taobao Live, then Sidekick is Douyin Live!

For PumpFun, livestreaming is merely a catalyst for token issuance; for Sidekick, livestreaming serves as a carrier for various types of content.

Written by: Yue Xiaoyu

PumpFun, the largest token launch platform in the crypto space, has relaunched its livestreaming feature. What impact will this have on the Web3 livestreaming sector?

To give the conclusion first: PumpFun pioneered the Web3 livestreaming track when it first launched its livestreaming feature; now, by relaunching it, the platform is once again raising the ceiling for this sector.

1. PumpFun actually gave its competitors a very long window of opportunity.

In November 2024, PumpFun was the first to combine token issuance, trading, and livestreaming, which generated tremendous buzz. Especially since the boundaries between illicit activities and the crypto space are so thin, all sorts of shady characters rushed in.

However, due to a lack of content risk control and compliance capabilities, the livestreaming feature was forced offline.

This was the first time people saw the potential and imaginative possibilities of Web3 livestreaming.

PumpFun gave other competitors a very long window of opportunity—from November 2024 to September 2025, nearly a year.

During this period, who managed to emerge?

Without a doubt, it was Sidekick, which quickly rose to prominence within that year, completing its ecosystem cold start and token launch.

2. After PumpFun relaunches livestreaming, what will competitors do?

Some may ask, with PumpFun relaunching its livestreaming feature, will Sidekick be threatened?

First of all, PumpFun is the largest token launch platform in the crypto space, with significant influence. Therefore, relaunching the livestreaming feature once again validates the importance of livestreaming.

So, this move actually broadens the ceiling for the sector.

As the pie grows larger, the leading players in this sector will always be able to claim a bigger share—the key is the proportion.

3. PumpFun and Sidekick are engaged in differentiated competition.

PumpFun leverages its core business—token issuance—and, by combining it with livestreaming, it could become a platform for fan tokens issued by creators.

Meanwhile, Sidekick leverages its Web2 livestreaming technology and growth experience, with a product strength clearly superior to PumpFun, and is becoming a general entertainment Web3 livestreaming platform.

So, from this perspective, Sidekick and PumpFun are engaged in differentiated competition, with distinct positioning.

For PumpFun, livestreaming is merely a catalyst for token issuance; for Sidekick, livestreaming serves as a carrier for various types of content.

In other words, livestreams on PumpFun are all in service of token launches, so the content naturally tends to be more emotionally charged and provocative.

However, livestreams on Sidekick place greater emphasis on the content itself, with richer variety, including research and analysis, blockchain gaming, live dog training, online tutorials, and more.

4. Text, images, video, livestreaming—this is the inevitable evolution path for content platforms.

It has long been said that, due to its unique characteristics, the Web3 industry needs a livestreaming platform tailored to Web3 features.

Traditional livestreaming platforms have high compliance requirements for the crypto space, accounts can be banned at any time, and monetization is difficult. Traditional influencers mainly monetize through livestream e-commerce, which does not fit the characteristics of the crypto space.

Currently, the main gathering place for the crypto community is Twitter, but Twitter is mainly focused on text and images. There is still a need for a video-oriented platform to become the next gathering place for crypto users after Twitter.

The ceiling for the Web3 livestreaming sector is very high. It can accommodate not only PumpFun, but also various differentiated competing platforms.

PumpFun provides livestreaming in service of token launches, while Sidekick provides livestreaming in service of content—this is Sidekick's differentiation.

If PumpFun is more like Taobao Live, where livestreaming serves to sell goods, then Sidekick is like Douyin Live, where selling goods is just one way to monetize, and there are also knowledge monetization, tipping, and more.