Why did Joseph Maldonado-Passage, higher referred to as 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 informed Decrypt in an interview, claiming the endeavor may even profit youngsters via donations to a nonprofit known as Operation Smile.
The 62-year-old, who has lived behind bars for seven years, didn’t launch the meme coin himself. As a substitute, he mentioned his legal professionals helped him get “Official Tiger King” off the bottom, which started buying and selling underneath the ticker title EXOTIC on Monday.
Most superstar meme cash find yourself as flash within the pan. Their worth typically hinges on folks’s consideration, which may fade rapidly. Others find yourself marred by allegations of insider buying and selling. Unique mentioned he’s hopeful that his token doesn’t find yourself changing into yet one more instance.
this proper right here too. Dont overlook 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
For those who 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 break my popularity,” the previous wildlife park proprietor mentioned. “I am hoping that folks will see that is legit and it has a function.”
Superstar meme cash, whereas nothing new, reached a boiling level final yr, with names like Caitlyn Jenner, Jason Derulo, and Cardi B getting into the house. Hailey Welch, also called “Hawk Tuah woman,” was amongst those who acquired caught flat-footed. Her coin, dubbed HAWK, turned a fiasco after it imploded. A spokesperson informed Decrypt she “had zero management over it.”
EXOTIC debuted on a little-known launchpad known as pumpkin.enjoyable. The meme coin’s market cap initially surged to $900,000 however has since fallen to only over $100,000, in line with the crypto information supplier GeckoTerminal. It has lower than 900 holders in complete, per blockchain information.
The web site for Unique’s meme coin doesn’t reference the venture’s aim of contributing funds to Operation Smile. Nevertheless, it does say tokens will probably be donated to a “basis supporting tigers or animal well being” upon his launch from jail. On Friday, Unique’s account on X, previously referred to as Twitter, mentioned it had already donated $1,000 to the nonprofit.
Unique says his legal professionals acquired behind the concept of launching a meme coin as a approach to showcase his dedication to charitable work. That’s a purpose for him to be free, he mentioned, 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 the moment being held at FMC Fort Value, an administrative safety heart, in line with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons He routinely makes use of the phone to attach with the surface world, protecting followers up-to-date by way of podcasts and X Areas.
In terms of crypto, Unique has been capable of soak up lots, even studying from different inmates. Whereas acquainted with key phrases, his real-word expertise is admittedly restricted.
“There’s not lots to do all day apart from sit and speak to individuals who know shit,” he mentioned. “I do lots from right here, however I don’t even know find out how to arrange a pockets.”
Happy 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 in opposition to 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 known as “Tiger King Coin” was launched as properly. Unique mentioned he was entitled to obtain 1% of its provide, however by no means came upon who was behind the venture. He fears that coin could affect folks’s perceptions of the one which simply launched.
Operation Smile, based in 1982, gives cleft lip and palate restore surgical procedures for kids the world over. Unique hopes his meme coin can finally assist that initiative shifting ahead.
“Individuals actually need to spend money on it,” he mentioned. “I would really like to have the ability to get it up there to the place I can repair 500 children’ [faces] and pay my lawyer payments.”
Edited by Andrew Hayward
