Deployer-Linked Wallets Sniped 40% of AVA AI at Launch on Solana

Solana’s AI-themed token AVA is back in the spotlight after blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps said a cluster of 23 wallets linked to the token’s deployer bought roughly 40% of the supply at launch, a behavior often described as “sniping.” The firm’s thread—summarized by Cointelegraph—argues the wallets were funded in a tight window, in similar sizes, with no prior on-chain history, and appeared to act in coordination as AVA went live.

What Bubblemaps says happened

Bubblemaps claims its clustering tools tied the 23 addresses to the deployer and observed common fingerprints: deposits arriving around the same time, similar SOL funding amounts, and synchronized buying at launch. The wallets allegedly used major exchanges as entry points and were part of a wider web of addresses that accumulated AVA early. In Bubblemaps’ framing, that left a single entity effectively sitting on ~40% of supply shortly after launch. 

The firm posted visualizations and a short explainer on X, reiterating that the wallets “sniped” the drop—crypto slang for using bots or scriptable tools to auto-buy tokens the moment they become tradable, often at prices retail traders can’t match.

Price context: from $300M FDV hype to a 96% drawdown

Cointelegraph’s recap notes AVA launched on Nov. 13, 2024 via Pump.fun—a Solana launchpad known for rapid, community-driven token debuts—and quickly hit a $300 million fully diluted valuation in January 2025. Since then, the token has crashed over 96% from its all-time high of $0.33 (Jan. 15, 2025), according to market data cited in the report. Separate coverage this week echoed the same magnitude of decline.

That timeline matters. Concentrated early holdings don’t prove foul play, but they raise the risk of steep moves if insiders sell into thin liquidity. The pattern—rapid clustering at launch, a vertical price run, and a deep retrace—has played out across multiple fast-moving Solana launches this year.

Why “sniping” raises red flags for traders

Launch sniping is not new, and it isn’t automatically illegal or against protocol rules. But it distorts price discovery: automated buyers get a head start at the most favorable ticks, and if those are connected to the project deployer, the risk picture changes. A few implications traders tend to watch:

• Supply concentration. If a handful of addresses hold a huge chunk of tokens from day one, the market faces ongoing overhang. That can suppress rallies and amplify drawdowns. Cointelegraph’s write-up frames this as a classic precursor to rug pulls or mass profit-taking. 
• Attribution risk. When wallets cluster around a deployer, governance or liquidity decisions may be influenced by a coordinated group rather than a dispersed community—contrary to the “fair launch” narrative often marketed on meme-coin platforms. 
• Execution edge. Scripted buyers can front-run humans at the moment of listing, often within seconds, capturing the best entries and offloading into later demand.

How Bubblemaps connected the dots

Bubblemaps says it used its Time Travel feature to reconstruct the historical distribution around the launch window, then grouped addresses by funding sources, timing, and behavior. The firm’s public post highlights similar SOL deposits, a lack of prior on-chain activity for many addresses, and tight synchronization in buys—typical clustering signals for sybil or coordinated groups. 

While independent replication would require raw on-chain pulls, the underlying method—wallet clustering by shared patterns—is standard practice in crypto forensics and a useful sanity check for retail traders evaluating new launches.

Did the project respond?

As of publication, Cointelegraph’s report does not include a response from the AVA team addressing the clustering claims, and Bubblemaps’ X thread stops short of alleging criminal wrongdoing. The core claim is concentration and coordination, not a definitive accusation of fraud. If the team publishes a distribution audit or vesting details that contradict the clustering view, that would be an important update for holders.

Why Solana keeps seeing these headlines

Solana’s low fees and fast finality make it the preferred chain for high-velocity launches. Tools like Pump.fun lower launch friction to near zero, which is great for experimentation—but also perfect for snipers, who only need a few SOL and a decent script to vacuum up early supply. That dynamic has pushed analytics firms (including Bubblemaps) to focus on pre- and post-launch forensics so users can spot risky concentration patterns before chasing green candles.

The conclusion

Bubblemaps’ claim doesn’t automatically mean a rug is imminent, but it undercuts the perception of a neutral, community-driven launch. For Solana’s hyperactive token scene, the lesson is familiar: inspect the cap table, not just the chart. If a few wallets—especially those tied to a deployer—control a big slice of supply, the risk-reward changes. And as AVA’s 2025 arc shows, momentum can reverse hard when early holders head for the exits.