Community Takeover (CTO)

A community takeover (CTO) is when holders of a crypto token, usually a meme coin, take control of its promotion, social media channels and branding after the original developer abandons the project, often after selling their own tokens. Because many meme coins are simple tokens with no ongoing code to maintain, the community can carry on by forming new chat groups, websites and marketing efforts, and sometimes by raising funds to pay for exchange listings or data-site updates. The term became common in 2024 alongside token launch platforms such as Pump.fun, where many tokens are created and quickly abandoned. CTOs carry real risks: new leaders may be anonymous, and a takeover can itself be used to restart a pump and dump after a rug pull. Also see DEX Screener.