Headline: April Fools’ Death Hoax for 193‑Year‑Old Tortoise Spurs Brief Pump in Solana Meme Token JONATHAN
An April Fools’ prank claiming that Jonathan—the Seychelles giant tortoise long touted as the world’s oldest land animal—had died briefly sent a Solana-based meme token tied to his name on a mini rollercoaster this week. The hoax, posted by someone purporting to be Jonathan’s veterinarian, racked up more than 1.7 million views before being debunked and admitted as a joke. The governor’s office of St Helena later posted a proof‑of‑life image and reassured the public that Jonathan is alive and well.
The prank had a clear crypto angle: the social post included a Solana token contract tied to an “Oldest Animal” meme coin using the ticker JONATHAN, and the contract address was also listed in the account’s bio. It’s unclear whether the poster explicitly solicited donations in crypto, or whether observers simply mistook the token contract for a personal wallet address. At least one post from the account referenced “taking a donation,” but subsequent messaging promoted the JONATHAN token itself.
Market response was brief and muted. According to DEXScreener data, JONATHAN—created in July 2025 and largely inactive for most of its life—jumped from a roughly $40,000 market cap to about $380,000 on Thursday amid the flurry of fake-news coverage, then slid back to trade near $50,000. The spike proved poor hunting ground for quick profits: the two most profitable traders from the bump netted less than $2,500 each, and the single top-performing trader had actually sold out two days before the hoax, missing any larger windfall.
Context on Jonathan: the tortoise is believed to be at least 193 years old and lives on St Helena, a British Overseas Territory. The governor’s office posted a photo to the Guardian showing Jonathan eating leaves and confirmed that a dedicated team continues to monitor his health.
Why it matters to crypto users: the episode highlights how low‑liquidity meme tokens can be extremely sensitive to social-media attention—true or not—and how misinformation can be used to generate short-lived market activity. For traders and donors, it’s a reminder to verify news through reliable sources, double‑check what a contract address actually represents, and be wary of tokens that can be easily pumped by viral posts.
Takeaway: Social virality can temporarily inflate speculative meme assets, but such moves are often short‑lived and risky. Verify facts before reacting—and Jonathan will remain a venerable living symbol of St Helena for now.
Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news
