- Mark Longo, the owner of Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon, has launched a new token called Justice for Pnut and Fred (JUSTICE) on Solana to honor the memory of his pets.
- Longo accused the crypto community of profiting from his personal tragedy and the deaths of his pets.
- The JUSTICE token has over $538 million in market cap and over 14,000 holders, according to data from Solscan.
The owner of Peanut, a squirrel pet that was euthanized this month, is accusing the crypto community of profiting from his personal trauma. He has launched a new token called JUSTICE and is threatening legal action.
Where The Story Began
Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon lived with Mark Longo at his animal sanctuary in Pine City, New York. Peanut had become an internet sensation with over 500,000 followers on social media. New York State environmental officers raided Longo’s home, citing laws against keeping wildlife as pets. Both animals were euthanized after Peanut allegedly bit someone during the seizure.
Lawsuits and Meme Coins
The case behind Peanut is not the first time a meme coin has resulted in actual lawsuits or threats. On November 21, Philip Banks, the artist behind the viral Chill Guy meme, said he is pursuing legal action against meme coins using his art. Banks’ artwork was used in coins like CHILLGUY, whose market cap swelled from $13 million to over $517 million.
Conclusion
The tragic story behind Peanut has led to outrage, meme coins, and now lawsuits. As meme coins continue gaining popularity, legal issues around using others’ intellectual property without permission will likely persist.
