Why did Joseph Maldonado-Passage, higher often called Joe Unique from the viral Netflix docuseries “Tiger King,” debut a meme coin on Solana from jail earlier this week?
“I’m knee-deep in lawyer payments,” he instructed Decrypt in an interview, claiming the endeavor may also profit youngsters by donations to a nonprofit referred to as Operation Smile.
The 62-year-old, who has lived behind bars for seven years, didn’t launch the meme coin himself. As an alternative, he stated his legal professionals helped him get “Official Tiger King” off the bottom, which started buying and selling below the ticker identify EXOTIC on Monday.
Most superstar meme cash find yourself as flash within the pan. Their worth usually hinges on folks’s consideration, which may fade rapidly. Others find yourself marred by allegations of insider buying and selling. Unique stated he’s hopeful that his token doesn’t find yourself turning into one more instance.
this proper right here too. Dont neglect all of this. You wont discover a extra sincere superstar coin. Monitor the wallets, they’re all on https://t.co/NoBlv57TF8 . When @realDonaldTrump pardons me, think about the market cap then
When you heard me on areas final night time, we’re simply beginning. Its… https://t.co/moNCRG63pl
— Joe Unique (@joe_exotic) March 28, 2025
“I pray to god that they don’t rug it and smash my popularity,” the previous wildlife park proprietor stated. “I am hoping that individuals will see that is legit and it has a goal.”
Celeb meme cash, whereas nothing new, reached a boiling level final yr, with names like Caitlyn Jenner, Jason Derulo, and Cardi B getting into the area. Hailey Welch, also referred to as “Hawk Tuah woman,” was amongst those who bought caught flat-footed. Her coin, dubbed HAWK, grew to become a fiasco after it imploded. A spokesperson instructed Decrypt she “had zero management over it.”
EXOTIC debuted on a little-known launchpad referred to as pumpkin.enjoyable. The meme coin’s market cap initially surged to $900,000 however has since fallen to only over $100,000, in response to the crypto knowledge supplier GeckoTerminal. It has lower than 900 holders in complete, per blockchain knowledge.
The web site for Unique’s meme coin doesn’t reference the undertaking’s aim of contributing funds to Operation Smile. Nevertheless, it does say tokens might be donated to a “basis supporting tigers or animal well being” upon his launch from jail. On Friday, Unique’s account on X, previously often called Twitter, stated it had already donated $1,000 to the nonprofit.
Unique says his legal professionals bought behind the thought of launching a meme coin as a method to showcase his dedication to charitable work. That’s a purpose for him to be free, he stated, versus “sitting in right here, watching folks do medication all day.”
Mission Smiles and Unique’s legal professionals didn’t reply to requests for remark from Decrypt.
Unique is at present being held at FMC Fort Price, an administrative safety heart, in response to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons He routinely makes use of the phone to attach with the surface world, preserving followers up-to-date by way of podcasts and X Areas.
Relating to crypto, Unique has been capable of take up rather a lot, even studying from different inmates. Whereas accustomed to key phrases, his real-word expertise is admittedly restricted.
“There’s not rather a lot to do all day moreover sit and speak to individuals who know shit,” he stated. “I do rather a lot from right here, however I don’t even know the best way to arrange a pockets.”
Pleased with my boy!
— Joe Unique (@joe_exotic) November 15, 2024
In 2021, Joe Unique was resentenced to 21 years in federal jail, per the Related Press. He was convicted of a murder-for-hire scheme towards animal welfare activist Carole Baskin, killing 5 tigers, promoting tiger cubs, and falsifying wildlife information.
Unique maintains his innocence, whereas additionally urgent U.S. President Donald Trump for a pardon on social media.
In 2021, an unofficial meme coin referred to as “Tiger King Coin” was launched as effectively. Unique stated he was entitled to obtain 1% of its provide, however by no means came upon who was behind the undertaking. He fears that coin might affect folks’s perceptions of the one which simply launched.
Operation Smile, based in 1982, supplies cleft lip and palate restore surgical procedures for youngsters internationally. Unique hopes his meme coin can finally assist that initiative transferring ahead.
“Individuals actually need to spend money on it,” he stated. “I would really like to have the ability to get it up there to the place I can repair 500 youngsters’ [faces] and pay my lawyer payments.”
Edited by Andrew Hayward
