In a now-deleted X post, Peanut the Squirrel owner Mark Longo apparently threatened to sue PNUT holders for copyright infringement while launching his own coin.
After accusing the PNUT community of profiting from his pet’s story, Mark Longo, the owner of Peanut the Squirrel, announced his intention to sue the token holders and launched his own coin, JUSTICE, in protest sign.
In a now deleted file follow-up article on X, Longo threatened legal action against PNUT holders. He accused them of profiting from his story after New York State Department of Environmental Conservation agents euthanized his pets, Peanut the squirrel and a raccoon named Fred, at the following an incident in which Peanut bit an officer.
Peanut euthanasia sparks outcry
At the end of October, DEC agents seized Peanut and Fred from Longo’s home due to violations of state laws prohibiting the keeping of wild animals. Despite Longo’s claims that the animals were released into the wild, Peanut’s continued appearances in social media posts led to a raid by authorities on October 30, according to a New York Times article. report.
Tragically, Peanut and Fred were euthanized on November 1, after a Peanut bite raised concerns about rabies. However, later tests confirmed that neither animal was affected by the disease.
Peanut’s euthanasia, combined with the controversy surrounding the DEC’s actions, sparked a public outcry. The incident gained more attention when Elon Musk tweeted in support of Peanut, transforming the squirrel into a symbol of freedom and overcoming government.
Squirrel_Dad flips his own coin
After the euthanasia, the crypto community launched a coin called (PNUT), inspired by the squirrel’s Internet fame. The token’s price spiked after it was listed on Binance, sparking widespread interest and speculation, but it began to decline steadily afterward, with critics suggesting it could be another pumping and trading scheme. Typical coin market dump.
Longo, who had built a loyal following of Peanut, expressed frustration with how the PNUT community used his pet’s inheritance for financial gain without offering him compensation.
In response to the resounding success of the PNUT, Longo spear its own token called JUSTICE as a way to assert control of its narrative and distance itself from the PNUT community. The token quickly gained attention, reaching a market cap of $13 million, with the price soaring more than 50,000% in the 24 hours leading up to press time, according to data from the DEX filter.