X Eyes Auto-Lock For Crypto Mentions After Tortoise Death Hoax

bitcoinistPublished on 2026-04-03Last updated on 2026-04-03

Abstract

A Solana memecoin named JONATHAN surged over 6,000% following a hoax on X that falsely reported the death of Jonathan, a 193-year-old tortoise. The scam originated from a fake account impersonating the tortoise’s real veterinarian, Joe Hollins, and was amplified by some news outlets before being debunked. Both the Governor of Saint Helena and the actual veterinarian confirmed Jonathan was alive. In response, X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, announced the platform is implementing auto-locking and verification for users who mention cryptocurrency for the first time, aiming to reduce such scams. The incident highlights a common fraud pattern: using impersonation and emotional stories to promote fraudulent tokens quickly before the truth emerges. The token’s value briefly spiked but later pulled back sharply.

A Solana memecoin linked to a false death report about Jonathan, the 193-year-old tortoise, reportedly jumped more than 6,000% before pulling back sharply after the hoax spread across X and other news outlets caught on. The token, called JONATHAN, was still trading at $0.00007998, according to reports.

Token Surge Followed The Hoax

The scam began with a post from an account pretending to be veterinarian Joe Hollins, the real doctor who has cared for Jonathan on Saint Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic.

The fake post (below) claimed the tortoise had died and pushed users toward a Solana memecoin tied to the story. Some news outlets initially amplified the false death claim before it was debunked.

Both the Governor of Saint Helena, Nigel Phillips, and the real Joe Hollins subsequently confirmed that Jonathan was still alive.

The setup was simple and fast. A trusted identity was copied, a sad story was posted, and crypto was added to the mix before many users had time to check the facts.

A crypto news site reported that the false account was used to promote donations and token buying, turning a strange animal story into a short-lived trading frenzy.

The real Joe Hollins with Jonathan The Tortoise. Photograph: Saint Helena/PA

X Puts New Limits On Crypto Posts

The episode also drew a response from X. Nikita Bier, head of product at the platform, said the company was looking at new rules for users who mention crypto for the first time.

Under the plan he outlined, accounts could be locked and pushed through verification before posting. Bier said the goal was to strip away most of the reward scammers get from these schemes.

His remarks came as X faced another reminder of how quickly fake claims can move on the site. According to the report, the scam used phishing-style access and impersonation tactics that are already familiar in crypto fraud.

The difference here was the subject. Instead of a celebrity or politician, the hook was a tortoise known around the world for its age.

BTCUSD trading at $66,903 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView

A Familiar Scam Pattern

The Jonathan hoax was unusual in form, but not in method. Scammers often use anonymous or fake accounts to spread false promises and fake memecoins.

The report also pointed out that unauthorized tokens have been created around public figures before, including Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump.

That pattern has a simple shape: grab attention, borrow trust, and add a token before the lie is exposed. In this case, the price spike was brief, the false death claim was exposed, and the tortoise at the center of it all remained alive.

Featured image from Gillian Moore/Alamy Stock Photo, chart from TradingView

Related Questions

QWhat was the name of the Solana memecoin that surged over 6,000% following the false death report about Jonathan the tortoise?

AThe token was called JONATHAN.

QHow did the platform X respond to the crypto scam involving the tortoise death hoax?

AX announced it was implementing auto-locking and verification for users who post about cryptocurrency for the first time in their account's history to remove the incentive for scammers.

QWho was impersonated in the fake post that started the Jonathan tortoise death hoax?

AThe scam began with a post from an account pretending to be veterinarian Joe Hollins, the real doctor who has cared for Jonathan.

QWhat was the final confirmed status of Jonathan the tortoise after the hoax was debunked?

ABoth the Governor of Saint Helena, Nigel Phillips, and the real Joe Hollins confirmed that Jonathan was still alive.

QAccording to the article, what is the common three-step pattern used in these types of crypto scams?

AThe pattern is: grab attention, borrow trust, and add a token before the lie is exposed.

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