Mark Longo, the owner of the internet-famous Peanut the Squirrel, has reportedly launched a new cryptocurrency, JUSTICE, while threatening to sue holders of the existing Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) memecoin for alleged copyright infringement.
Longo’s actions follow the tragic euthanasia of his pet squirrel Peanut and a raccoon named Fred, which sparked public outrage and turned Peanut into a symbol of government overreach. Longo accused the PNUT community of exploiting his pet’s story for profit without his consent, alleging they capitalized on the controversy surrounding Peanut’s death.
In late October, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) agents reportedly raided Longo’s home, citing violations of state laws against keeping wild animals. Peanut and Fred were seized, and despite Longo’s claims that the animals had been released into the wild, officials found evidence to the contrary. Following the seizure, Peanut bit an officer, raising rabies concerns.
On November 1, both animals were euthanized, though tests later confirmed they were rabies-free. The incident, reported by The New York Times, sparked a public outcry and drew the attention of Elon Musk, who posted in support of Peanut, amplifying the story.
Longo expressed anger over what he viewed as the PNUT community exploiting his pet’s legacy for financial gain, claiming he received no compensation despite the token’s success.
In a now-deleted post on X, Longo threatened legal action against PNUT holders, accusing them of profiting from his story. Shortly after, he launched his own cryptocurrency, JUSTICE, as a way to reclaim control over Peanut’s narrative.
JUSTICE quickly gained traction, with its market cap reaching $13 million and its value surging over 50,000% within 24 hours, according to DEX Screener data.
Meanwhile, the creator of the viral “Chill Guy” meme, Phillip Bankss, has also announced plans to take legal action against cryptocurrency projects and other for-profit entities using his artwork without authorization. On November 21, Bankss revealed on X that he has copyrighted the meme character and intends to pursue unauthorized use in merchandise and cryptocurrency tokens.
If you want to read more news articles like this, visit DeFi Planet and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and CoinMarketCap Community.
“Take control of your crypto portfolio with MARKETS PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”
