Pump.fun developer is about to be released after six years in prison for embezzling 2 million dollars worth of Solana

By the end of August 2025, a court in London sentenced Jarett Dunn—a Canadian programmer who previously worked for Pump.fun—to six years in prison for fraud and the transfer of criminal assets. With this verdict, Dunn is about to rot in a London prison, awaiting either a review process or deportation back to Canada, which he still hopes to receive soon.

The Incident and the Motive Behind the Asset Theft

In May 2024, Jarett Dunn—then a senior development staff at Pump.fun—made a move that drew attention across the entire crypto community. He withdrew approximately $2 million worth of Solana from the platform’s company wallet, but instead of keeping the money for himself, Dunn distributed it to thousands of random wallet addresses on the blockchain.

This action immediately drew attention, especially after Dunn publicly admitted to it on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He even positioned himself as a “crypto Robin Hood”—fighting against a platform he believed was “harming people.” On X Spaces, he declared his intention to “destroy” Pump.fun and warned the community about its potential risks.

However, prosecutors did not buy Dunn’s argument that this was a whistleblowing act. They viewed this as a sophisticated asset theft, not a noble effort or high-minded motive. The final verdict reaffirmed this stance.

The Complex Path to the Courtroom

Dunn’s legal journey was not straightforward. Four days after the theft, he was arrested at a hotel in London near WeWork—where Pump.fun’s offices are located and where Dunn was staying at the time.

From the moment of arrest, authorities noted that Dunn exhibited signs of mental health instability. After months without medication, he was deemed unfit for interviews and was hospitalized for two weeks for psychiatric care. This event became a significant factor in the case, highlighting its complexity.

The legal process stretched over more than a year, with sudden changes along the way. In August 2024, Dunn pleaded guilty, but two months later, he attempted to withdraw his plea. This move caused his legal team to withdraw from the case. Dunn spent months trying to find new lawyers while under police supervision. In July 2025, he was jailed for violating bail conditions, and by August, he pleaded guilty again.

Pump.fun’s Rapid Growth While Dunn Rotted in Prison

While Dunn awaited his verdict at HMP Pentonville, Pump.fun—the platform he once worked for—experienced remarkable growth. At the time Dunn was employed (six weeks before the theft), Pump.fun had accumulated revenue of only $43.9 million. As of now, that figure has skyrocketed to $927.2 million, representing a significant contrast.

Pump.fun is a platform that allows users to create new crypto tokens in just seconds by filling out a simple form. It has become one of the most successful crypto projects, demonstrating that the platform has overcome initial difficulties and continues to grow steadily.

Currently: Dunn Remains Detained with Vain Hopes

After being sentenced to six years for two charges—fraud through abuse of position and transfer of criminal assets—Jarett Dunn is currently held at HMP Pentonville in London. The two six-year sentences will be served concurrently, so he will serve one combined term instead of two.

While incarcerated, Dunn maintains contact with followers through a “trainee” managing his X account. He has not issued any official statements after the sentencing, but Dunn previously expressed hope of immediate deportation to Canada. However, that hope has not materialized, and he continues to live under detention in London, where he is about to rot away in the coming years.

According to Mark Kelly—a close friend of Dunn—this verdict is “sad,” and he also pointed out that although Dunn had legitimate arguments, his confessions on social media ultimately made it easier for prosecutors in the case.