30-3-2025 – From behind the walls of FMC Fort Worth, the flamboyant former zoo impresario Joseph Maldonado-Passage – known globally as Joe Exotic – has ventured into the cryptocurrency realm, marking what appears to be an unprecedented move by an incarcerated individual.
The erstwhile star of Netflix’s sensation “Tiger King” has orchestrated the launch of a digital token dubbed EXOTIC, whilst serving a 21-year sentence for a failed murder-for-hire scheme targeting his nemesis, animal rights campaigner Carole Baskin.
Despite his confinement in the federal medical centre, Maldonado-Passage maintains a remarkably active public presence through various digital channels, including podcasts and social media platforms. His legal team, acting on his instructions, has initiated this crypto venture primarily to address mounting court costs.
The token’s debut on the obscure pumpkin.fun platform witnessed an initial market capitalisation reaching $900,000, before settling at approximately $100,000, attracting roughly 900 investors. Maldonado-Passage, who self-identifies as a “political prisoner”, has pledged to channel a portion of the proceeds towards wildlife conservation and children’s causes.
This latest venture adds another chapter to his colourful narrative, which includes a 2016 independent presidential campaign and his notorious reign as proprietor of the G.W. Zoo. His eccentric persona and unconventional lifestyle garnered significant attention during his presidential bid, long before his eventual incarceration.
Though his direct exposure to cryptocurrency remains limited, Maldonado-Passage claims to have acquired knowledge about digital assets through fellow inmates. His sentence, originally set at 22 years, saw a modest reduction of 12 months in 2022, though his appeals to prove his innocence have thus far proved unsuccessful.
This foray into cryptocurrency appears to be part of a broader strategy to maintain his public profile, as he continues to hope for release well before his scheduled 2039 discharge date. Through regular phone calls and digital appearances, he sustains engagement with his supporters, marking an unprecedented intersection between incarceration, celebrity, and digital finance.