In 2025, sniping bots on Solana extract millions by capturing 87% of targeted token launches, turning retail traders into exit liquidity. The Ava AI token incident spotlights this issue, with deployer-linked wallets securing a massive early share. According to on-chain analytics, such patterns erode trust in decentralized ecosystems.
Understanding the Ava AI Token
Ava serves as the first 3D AI agent on Holoworld AI, a platform for creating and funding agentic applications. Backed by Polychain, it launched on Pump.fun in November 2024, aiming for community-driven growth in Web3.
The token hit a $300 million fully diluted valuation by early 2025, drawing interest from AI and crypto enthusiasts. However, its price dropped 79% post-launch and 96% from a $0.33 peak.
Bubblemaps' On-Chain Investigation
Bubblemaps used its Time Travel tool to reconstruct Ava's early distribution, revealing coordinated activity. This visualization platform detects wallet clusters and insider moves in real time.
Key wallet Patterns Exposed
Twenty-three wallets, including the deployer's, received funds from CeFi exchanges like Bitget and Binance right before launch. They held similar SOL amounts, showed no prior transactions, and bought Ava instantly.
Connected clusters with matching funding traits suggest a single entity controlled 40% of supply, enabling potential dumps. Such bundling raises rug pull risks in Solana's fast-paced environment.
According to Bubblemaps,
These wallets were funded in tight time windows, received similar amounts of SOL, had no prior activity, and sniped $AVA at launch.
This points to premeditated extraction.
Broader Trends in Solana Sniping
Sniping thrives on Solana due to low fees and high speeds, with bots automating buys in the first block. In 2025, platforms like Pump.fun see 50% of launches hit by snipers, per community reports.
Developer-funded
burner
wallets fake organic demand, then dump, profiting 15,000+ SOL in 30 days alone. Analyst Kydo notes, '87% of snipes won,' highlighting automated dominance over manual trades.
CeFi's role grows as exchanges fund these operations, blurring lines with Web3's decentralized ethos. This intersection amplifies manipulation in memecoin markets.
Implications for Traders and Projects
High concentration early on creates volatility, deterring long-term holders in AI-driven tokens like Ava. Projects now explore anti-snipe mechanisms, such as delayed liquidity or fair launch protocols.
Holoworld's ecosystem, with over 1 million users and 700,000 AI creations, faces scrutiny despite no direct response to queries. Investors must check bubble maps before buying.
Combating Sniping in 2025
Solana teams deploy solutions like custom block delays and managed services to curb MEV bots. Hybrid snipers balance early entry with risk management for fairer debuts.
Web3 launchpads emphasize transparency, while CeFi integrations demand better oversight to prevent insider advantages. Education on on-chain forensics empowers users against these tactics.
This Ava case stresses vigilance in token launches, as unchecked sniping undermines Web3 innovation. By leveraging tools like Bubblemaps, participants can foster more equitable cefi-Web3 collaborations.
