The Oldest Tortoise in the World, a Fake Account, and a 6,000% Memecoin
If you think you’ve already seen everything in the crypto world, this story will surprise you. A scammer created a fake account on X (Twitter) impersonating Joe Hollins, the veterinarian responsible for Jonathan — a 193-year-old giant tortoise living on the island of Saint Helena. Jonathan is officially recognized as the oldest living land animal in the world.
The fake account posted that Jonathan had died. Within minutes, the scammer launched a memecoin called JONATHAN on the Solana network, capitalizing on the emotional reaction spreading across social media. The result was predictable for anyone familiar with the memecoin market: the token surged more than 6,000% within hours.
How the Scam Worked
The mechanics are the same as dozens of similar scams seen across the crypto ecosystem — but the choice of “hook” was particularly creative and cruel:
Step 1 — Fake Identity:
The criminal created an account on X impersonating Joe Hollins, the real veterinarian who cares for Jonathan in Saint Helena. The account used photos and information that made it appear legitimate.
Step 2 — Viral Fake News:
The account announced that Jonathan had died, triggering a wave of emotional reactions, shares, and spontaneous tributes from thousands of people familiar with the tortoise’s story.
Step 3 — Memecoin Launch:
Taking advantage of peak attention, the scammer shared a link to the JONATHAN memecoin on Solana, positioning it as a “tribute” to the animal.
Step 4 — Pump and Dump:
Driven by emotional buying pressure, the token skyrocketed 6,000%. Once the scammer sold their holdings, the price collapsed, leaving buyers with nearly worthless tokens. At the time the scam was uncovered, JONATHAN was trading at just $0.00007043.
Jonathan Is Alive — And the Veterinarian Was Not Amused
The hoax was exposed after BBC and other media outlets confirmed that Jonathan the tortoise was perfectly alive. The real Joe Hollins spoke to The Guardian, clearly frustrated by the situation.
Hollins made it clear that he has never had any involvement with cryptocurrencies and that the X account was completely fraudulent. His frustration is understandable: someone used his name and the fake death of an animal under his care to carry out a financial scam.
X Promises Action — But the Problem Is Bigger
Nikita Bier, Head of Product at X, announced new security measures in response to the case. The main proposal is to automatically block accounts that mention cryptocurrencies for the first time and require identity verification to prevent similar scams.
However, the issue goes far beyond a single social platform. Memecoin scams have become an epidemic in the crypto ecosystem. The pattern repeats frequently:
- A viral event captures attention (celebrity death, political statement, trending meme)
- A token is created within minutes on Solana
- The price spikes due to FOMO (fear of missing out)
- The creator dumps their holdings, and the price collapses
Recent examples include memecoins created in the name of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and even former U.S. President Donald Trump — all without authorization or involvement from those public figures.
Why Solana Is a Playground for Scammers
It’s no coincidence that most memecoin scams happen on Solana. The blockchain offers fast and low-cost transactions, allowing tokens to be created and listed in minutes with almost zero cost. Platforms like Pump.fun have automated the process to the point where anyone can launch a memecoin without technical knowledge.
This accessibility — one of Solana’s greatest strengths for legitimate developers — becomes a weapon in the hands of scammers. The challenge for the ecosystem is finding ways to reduce fraud without compromising the openness and decentralization that define blockchain.
How to Protect Yourself
- Be skeptical of memecoins tied to emotional events: deaths, tragedies, and crises are common triggers used by scammers because they reduce rational thinking.
- Verify sources: before believing any news tied to a token launch, confirm it with reputable media outlets.
- Avoid tokens promoted by new or anonymous accounts: newly created profiles or accounts with little history are major red flags.
- Understand that 99% of memecoins go to zero: the 6,000% surge of JONATHAN lasted only hours — buyers at the top lost almost everything.