Rainbow Buys Clanker to Fuel Ethereum's Token Boom with Shared Rewards

Rainbow, a prominent Ethereum wallet provider, has announced plans to acquire Clanker, a token launchpad protocol, and allocate 4% of its total RNBW supply to CLANKER holders as part of the transactionEthereum Wallet Rainbow Reveals RNBW Token Airdrop—Here's …^[1]. The move, revealed in September 2025, underscores Rainbow’s strategy to expand its ecosystem by integrating Clanker’s token-creation capabilities into its platform. The RNBW token, which will be launched in Q4 2025, is intended to incentivize user engagement and reward loyalty, building on Rainbow’s existing Points program that has been operational since late 2023Ethereum Wallet Rainbow Reveals RNBW Token Airdrop—Here's …^[1].

Clanker, which operates on the Base Layer-2 network, has emerged as a key player in the tokenization space, generating nearly $27 million in fees since its November 2024 launch. The protocol has facilitated the creation of over 200,000 tokens, with $2.7 billion in onchain swap volume recorded across five months. Clanker’s fee model includes a 1% transaction fee on Uniswap V3 liquidity pools, with 40% of these fees distributed to creators and 60% retained by the protocol. The acquisition by Rainbow aligns with Clanker’s broader goal to transition into a fully permissionless protocol while maintaining its fee-sharing structure.

Rainbow’s RNBW token will be distributed through a token generation event (TGE), with approximately 20% of the circulating supply available at launchEthereum Wallet Rainbow Reveals RNBW Token Airdrop—Here's …^[1]. The wallet app has also introduced features to support Clanker users, including in-app fee-claiming functionality for Clanker-generated tokens. These updates aim to streamline user access to rewards and enhance the overall experience for token creators and tradersRainbow Wallet Introduces Clanker Fee Claims Feature^[2]. Additionally, Rainbow’s Points program, which rewards users for onchain activity and platform usage, will be converted into RNBW tokens, further incentivizing participationEthereum Wallet Rainbow Reveals RNBW Token Airdrop—Here's …^[1].

The acquisition reflects a competitive landscape where token launchpads are pivotal in driving onchain activity. Clanker’s success on Base has positioned it as a challenger to platforms like PumpFun on Solana, which has generated over $600 million in fees. While PumpFun dominates Solana’s memecoin market, Clanker’s integration with Farcaster and its focus on Ethereum-based ecosystems highlight its unique value proposition. The protocol’s ability to process over 10,000 token launches daily and its partnerships with platforms like Bankr and ClankFun have contributed to its rapid adoption.

Analysts note that Rainbow’s move to acquire Clanker could accelerate token creation and liquidity on Ethereum-based networks. By offering a portion of RNBW supply to Clanker holders, Rainbow aims to align incentives between its user base and the Clanker community. This strategy mirrors broader trends in decentralized finance (DeFi), where tokenomics and fee-sharing models play a critical role in sustaining ecosystem growth. However, challenges remain, including regulatory scrutiny of token launchpads and the need to balance innovation with security.

The RNBW token’s launch is expected to coincide with Rainbow’s expansion of features such as real-time price updates and in-wallet perpetual trading via Hyperliquid. These developments, combined with Clanker’s integration, position Rainbow as a multifunctional platform for Ethereum users. As the crypto market continues to evolve, Rainbow’s acquisition of Clanker underscores the growing importance of interoperable tools that empower users to create, trade, and manage digital assets efficiently.