On April 1, 2026, information appeared on the social network X about the alleged death of a 193-year-old turtle named Jonathan — the oldest land animal in the world. An account posing as veterinarian Joe Hollins published a statement that quickly went viral and spread across many major media outlets. It later turned out that this news was a hoax.
This is reported by Business • Media
Viral News and the Reaction of the Cryptocurrency Market
Although the account with the fake information was quickly deleted, the post itself remained accessible for viewing. The dissemination of this news caused a massive resonance not only online but also in the cryptocurrency market. The themed memecoin JONATHAN, created on the Solana platform, sharply surged in price, showing more than a 1400% increase and reaching an all-time high of $0.00038. After that, the price underwent a correction.
“As his veterinarian, who has worked with him for many years, it was an honor for me to care for him — feeding him bananas by hand, watching him bask in the sun, and admiring his quiet wisdom,” the note states.
Debunking the Hoax and Consequences for the Memecoin
USA Today reached out for a comment from the real Joe Hollins, who confirmed that Jonathan is alive and well. He noted that the scammer who created the fake account might have been collecting cryptocurrency donations under the guise of this false news and emphasized that this is not an April Fools’ joke, but genuine fraud.
Despite the lack of evidence linking the launch of the memecoin to the fake news about the turtle, the JONATHAN asset, which emerged in the summer of 2025, quickly gained popularity after the publicity. Similar sharp price jumps have occurred with other memecoins influenced by trends or viral events — for example, with PUNCH, related to the story of an abandoned baby Japanese macaque.
Jonathan is not only a record-holder among turtles but also the oldest land animal on the planet. He has spent most of his life on the island of Saint Helena.