crypto pumping refers to the practice of artificially inflating the price of a cryptocurrency through coordinated efforts, usually by a group of traders or influencers. this is often done to create hype around the cryptocurrency, leading to increased buying from unsuspecting investors. once the price reaches a desired high, the original promoters sell off their holdings at a profit, a practice known as "dumping," which typically causes the price to crash, leaving late investors with losses. 

pumping and dumping is considered unethical and is illegal in many markets because it manipulates the market and can lead to significant financial losses for those who are unaware of the scheme.