The world’s longest-living tortoise “dies,” but it’s actually a crypto scam—the Meme coin market cap jumps 376%

Gate News update: Reports about the death of Jonathan, the world’s longest-living tortoise, have recently sparked widespread attention. However, it turned out to be a cryptocurrency scam. An anonymous account claiming to be a veterinarian for Jonathan posted a message on a social media platform, saying that Jonathan passed away peacefully on Saint Helena and hinting at support for its cryptocurrency project. However, Jonathan’s real veterinarian, Joe Hollins, confirmed to the media that the account was completely fabricated, with the aim of luring people into buying a cryptocurrency unrelated to Jonathan.

Jonathan has been living in the protected reserve on Saint Helena since 1882. Its health has been good; even though it has cataracts and has lost its sense of smell, it remains active and frequently interacts with the island’s younger tortoises. The island’s governor, Nigel Philips, said that Jonathan enjoys grass, vegetables, and fruit every day, lives peacefully, and has not faced any threats.

Affected by the false report, the price of a Jonathan-themed Meme coin surged 376% that day. Its market cap rose from $25,000 at one point to $119,000, before falling back to about $74,000. The incident highlights the cryptocurrency market’s sensitivity to false information, as well as the risks investors face when chasing short-term price fluctuations.

Not only that, during April Fools’ Day, other crypto projects also descended into chaos. For example, the LQTY token’s price jumped sharply due to false acquisition rumors, while Hyperbridge claimed its system had been hacked—only to later be found out as an April Fools’ prank. Meanwhile, the Drift protocol was actually attacked by hackers, resulting in losses of about $280 million, reminding investors that blockchain assets also face real risks.

This incident once again serves as a warning to investors: the crypto market is easy to manipulate, especially when prices are pushed through hype around hot topics and fake news. When focusing on Meme coins and niche tokens, investors should carefully verify the source of information to avoid blindly following the crowd. (Protos)