Two law firms, Burwick Law and Wolf Popper LLP, have sent a cease-and-desist letter to Solana-based token launchpad Pump.fun, alleging it used their intellectual property in the creation and promotion of the controversial meme coin, Dog Shit Going Nowhere (DOGSHIT2). The firms also accused Pump.fun of trying to intimidate their clients.

The allegations come as both firms pursue a class-action lawsuit against Pump.fun, claiming the platform has facilitated widespread securities fraud. They also called out the launchpad for allowing users to create and trade unregistered tokens easily.

DOGSHIT2 Soars Amid Pump.fun’s Legal Woes

On Thursday, the cease-and-desist letter, dated February 5, 2025, was shared on X (Twitter). Burwick Law and Wolf Popper LLP demanded that Pump.fun immediately remove DOGSHIT2 and other tokens allegedly impersonating the firms and their employees.

“…any further unauthorized use of our firms’ names, intellectual property, or association with this token may result in immediate legal action,” the post read.

The controversy surrounding DOGSHIT2 began when Burwick Law submitted court documents in its initial lawsuit against Pump.fun. It included an exhibit demonstrating how easily users could create tokens on the platform. The firm also accused Pump.fun of enabling rug pulls and failed meme coins.

However, crypto analysts quickly noticed that a wallet address referenced in the lawsuit was linked to DOGSHIT2. This revelation led to speculation that Burwick Law or its affiliates had inadvertently created the token.

The law firm has vehemently denied any involvement in launching or profiting from DOGSHIT2. Specifically, they said the token only existed as “memory on the server” until it was purchased and deployed on-chain by an unknown party.

Despite Burwick’s denials, DOGSHIT2 has continued to attract investor interest. At its peak on January 31, the token’s market capitalization exceeded $23 million. While it has dropped to around $8.2 million, according to CoinGecko data, the price has increased by over 200% since Thursday’s session opened.

Pump.fun Platform’s Role in the Dispute

Meanwhile, the main issue in the legal battle is whether Pump.fun knowingly allowed the creation of tokens designed to impersonate law firms and plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit. The law firms assert that Pump.fun has the technical ability to remove the disputed tokens but has refused to do so.

“Burwick Law confirmed that Pump.fun has the technical capability to remove these tokens and has chosen not to act, despite the clear financial and legal risks posed to the public,” the law firm added.

They further claim that Pump.fun’s actions represent an effort to interfere with ongoing litigation, intimidating investors pursuing claims against it. The firms warn that such tactics could undermine the legitimacy of blockchain technology by using it to obstruct due process and manipulate public perception.

Pump.fun has not publicly commented on the allegations of intimidation. However, the launchpad advertises as merely providing an open platform for token generation.

Meanwhile, regulatory scrutiny over meme coin platforms has increased, particularly as high-risk, pump-and-dump schemes proliferate. However, for Pump.fun, this adds to a list of controversies after analysts slammed it for delaying the altcoin season. Most Solana founders also have negative sentiments about the platform.

Nevertheless, it is impossible to forget the Solana meme coin launchpad’s remarkable start to the year. As BeInCrypto reported, the platform recorded a notable $14 million in daily revenue on January 2 and accounted for 52.8% of Solana DEX transactions in December.

Government watchdog group Public Citizen has filed a formal complaint with the Department of Justice and the Office of Government Ethics regarding President Donald Trump’s launch of meme coins.

The group is urging an investigation into whether Trump violated federal laws by promoting and soliciting money for his Official Trump meme coin.

The complaint, submitted on Wednesday, cites social media posts from Trump on both X (formerly Twitter) and Truth Social. According to the submission, the US president used these platforms to promote the TRUMP coin and encouraged supporters to send money.

Further, Public Citizen alleges these posts were re-shared on January 20 and January 21, shortly after Trump was inaugurated. The group argues that this constitutes a potential violation of federal laws prohibiting the president from soliciting personal gifts.

“A president soliciting money from the general public for his personal enrichment would be a reprehensible abuse of the presidency. The Department of Justice and Office of Government Ethics owe it to the American people to thoroughly investigate whether Donald Trump’s solicitation is in violation of the law, and, if it is, take appropriate action to stop it,” an excerpt in the report read, citing Bartlett Naylor, a financial services advocate at Public Citizen.

The complaint also calls out Trump’s official website for the meme coin for stating that contributions to the project are purely in exchange for a digital receipt. According to the advocacy group, this suggests that the money received is not tied to any tangible product or service.

Public citizens are concerned that the funds collected may directly benefit Trump, potentially breaching federal ethics laws. Additionally, the complaint raises constitutional concerns.

Notably, the US Constitution forbids any president from accepting money or items of value from foreign sources. Given crypto transactions’ decentralized and anonymous nature, it isn’t easy to ascertain whether foreign state actors are purchasing Trump’s meme coin.

According to the complaint, this creates possible national security and foreign policy risks.

Previous Calls for Investigation Into TRUMP Meme Coin

The latest complaint follows mounting scrutiny over Trump-affiliated cryptocurrencies. Two weeks ago, Senator Elizabeth Warren called for federal scrutiny of the TRUMP and MELANIA meme coins. As BeInCrypto reported, she warned of potential regulatory and ethical violations.

Around the same time, Democrats demanded an ethics probe into Trump’s involvement in meme coin-related financial dealings. They cited concerns about his association with World Liberty Financial.

“The expanding scope of President Trump—and by extension The Trump Organization’s—financial entanglements and quid pro quo promises are troubling,” wrote US Representative Gerald Connolly.

Despite these growing concerns, Trump recently denied knowledge of the meme coin. However, the denial came amid significant market fluctuations in the coin’s value, adding further speculation about his level of involvement.

Nevertheless, public interest in the TRUMP meme coin has surged. A recent survey found that over 40% of TRUMP meme coin holders are first-time investors, illustrating the coin’s strong appeal among inexperienced traders. At the same time, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), Trump’s DeFi venture, has experienced a dramatic rise in token sales following the launch of the TRUMP meme coin.

Further analysis of blockchain transactions has also revealed concerning centralization issues. A recent Chainalysis report found that 94% of TRUMP and MELANIA tokens are held by just 40 wallets. This raises questions about potential price manipulation and insider advantages.

Beyond ethical and regulatory concerns, Trump’s meme coin launch has also prompted discussions about its legal and tax implications. Cryptocurrency experts warn that such a venture could carry significant tax liabilities for Trump and investors.

Moreover, if the investigation finds that Trump’s meme coin solicitation violates federal law, the Public Citizen’s complaint suggests immediate action. These may include terminating the sale, refunding the money, and implementing additional penalties.

The Department of Justice and the Office of Government Ethics have yet to respond to the filing.