South Korea makes first DEX rug-pull arrests in Solana CATFI case
South Korean prosecutors charge 5 people in a CATFI memecoin rug pull case.About 256 investors lost roughly $650K after the CATFI token crashed.CATFI token surged 1,000x before liquidity was drained and the price collapsed. South Korean prosecutors have arrested and charged a group of individuals linked to the Solana-based CATFI memecoin over an alleged decentralised exchange (DEX) rug pull. The case marks the countrys first formal criminal action targeting a memecoin scam that unfolded entirely through a decentralised trading environment. According to a local news outlet, authorities say the operation affected hundreds of retail investors and generated substantial illicit gains before collapsing after a rapid price spike and liquidity drain. How the CATFI memecoin scheme unfolded The CATFI token was launched on Solana and traded primarily through decentralised platforms, including Pump.fun. Investigators allege that the operators positioned the token as a high-potential memecoin and used aggressive online promotion to attract early buyers. A key figure in the promotion reportedly used the alias “Eth Father,” presenting themselves as a credible community leader. This identity was used across social channels to build trust and encourage early participation in the token. Once liquidity and trading activity increased, prosecutors say the operators engaged in coordinated trading behaviour designed to simulate organic demand. This included