Why 'Tiger King' Joe Unique Launched a Solana Meme Coin From Behind Bars – Decrypt

Why did Joseph Maldonado-Passage, higher generally known 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 instructed Decrypt in an interview, claiming the endeavor can even profit kids by means of 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 an alternative, he stated his attorneys helped him get “Official Tiger King” off the bottom, which started buying and selling underneath the ticker identify EXOTIC on Monday.Most superstar meme cash find yourself as flash within the pan. Their worth usually hinges on individuals’s consideration, which might fade shortly. Others find yourself marred by allegations of insider buying and selling. Unique stated he’s hopeful that his token doesn’t find yourself changing into one more instance.“I pray to god that they don’t rug it and damage my popularity,” the previous wildlife park proprietor stated. “I am hoping that folks will see that is legit and it has a goal.”Celeb meme cash, whereas nothing new, reached a boiling level final 12 months, with names like Caitlyn Jenner, Jason Derulo, and Cardi B entering into the area. Hailey Welch, also called “Hawk Tuah woman,” was amongst those who received 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 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 keeping with the crypto knowledge supplier GeckoTerminal. It has lower than 900 holders in whole, per blockchain knowledge.The web site for Unique’s meme coin doesn't reference the mission’s aim of contributing funds to Operation Smile. Nevertheless, it does say tokens will likely be donated to a “basis supporting tigers or animal well being” upon his launch from jail. On Friday, Unique’s account on X, previously generally known as Twitter, stated it had already donated $1,000 to the nonprofit.Unique says his attorneys received behind the concept of launching a meme coin as a approach to showcase his dedication to charitable work. That’s a cause for him to be free, he stated, versus “sitting in right here, watching individuals do medication all day.”Venture Smiles and Unique’s attorneys didn't reply to requests for remark from Decrypt.Unique is presently being held at FMC Fort Price, an administrative safety middle, in keeping 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.With regards to crypto, Unique has been in a position to take in quite a bit, even studying from different inmates. Whereas aware of key phrases, his real-word expertise is admittedly restricted.“There's not quite a bit to do all day in addition to sit and speak to individuals who know shit,” he stated. “I do quite a bit from right here, however I don’t even know the right way to arrange a pockets.”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 effectively. Unique stated he was entitled to obtain 1% of its provide, however by no means discovered who was behind the mission. He fears that coin might affect individuals’s perceptions of the one which simply launched. Operation Smile, based in 1982, offers cleft lip and palate restore surgical procedures for youngsters internationally. Unique hopes his meme coin can in the end assist that initiative shifting 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 HaywardDaily Debrief NewsletterStart every single day with the highest information tales proper now, plus authentic options, a podcast, movies and extra.