Founder of Anonymous Hacktivist Group Launches Meme Coin Amidst 5-Year Prison Sentence Threat

“We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.”

The motto of the infamous hacktivist group Anonymous has marked some of the most notable hacks, targeting various organizations including the Westboro Baptist Church and Bank of America.

Now, a founding member is launching a Solana crypto project labeled a “movement coin,” representing hacktivist culture and aiding in his legal defense.

Aubrey Cottle, often referred to as Kirtaner, discussed with Decrypt his role as the founder of Anonymous and is facing potential prison time following U.S. Justice Department charges related to a 2021 data breach incident with the Republican Party of Texas. 

An unknown crypto enthusiast subsequently developed ANON, a Solana token on the Bags launchpad, allocating associated fees to Cottle. The token, embraced by Cottle, has surged to a market cap of $8 million since launching on August 15, accruing over $59,000 in fees for him.

Cottle stated to Decrypt that part of the fees will go toward his legal defense and ensuring his family is taken care of financially “if the worst happens.” He also mentioned plans to repurchase the ANON token and reserve portions for original Anonymous members.

“I want every single one of us to succeed, all of our old heroes,” Cottle shared with Decrypt. “People who risked their lives, who sacrificed, who were pursued by the authorities, faced fears for their lives, and have dealt with years of trauma. It’s important to make them feel like their contributions mattered.”

What is Anonymous?

Anonymous is a decentralized, global hacktivist group, often symbolized by a Guy Fawkes mask derived from the “V for Vendetta” narrative. The group is notorious for targeting major corporations and governments deemed guilty of misconduct.

In 2010, the group executed DDoS attacks on PayPal, Visa, and MasterCard for blocking donations to WikiLeaks; they also declared cyber warfare against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“Hacktivism represents a form of power accessible to the disenfranchised, allowing us to strike at scale; it serves as a necessary pressure release in society,” Cottle conveyed to Decrypt. “It’s a crucial means to resist against oppressive state and corporate forces.”

The community around the token embodies the essence of Anonymous culture, viewing ANON not merely as a meme coin but as an extension of the original hacktivist movement. One investor told Decrypt their aim is to incite a rebellion against institutions harming everyday individuals. 

The community has embraced terms linked to Anonymous, including its well-known motto, while also incorporating memes from meme coin culture. “The hat stays on,” a phrase from the Dogwifhat meme coin community, has been adapted to “The mask stays on” to reference the Guy Fawkes mask.

ANON investor Tx_Dak referred to the token as “the first genuine movement coin on Solana.” Speaking with Decrypt, they praised Cottle as the “actual founder” of the “largest decentralized movement globally,” labeling the token as his “legacy project.” They stated, “This isn’t merely a coin. It represents a tokenized version of a movement that drastically altered internet history, and now it will influence the blockchain indefinitely.”

Motivating a New Wave of Hacktivists

The recent rise in the token’s value not only revitalizes the memetic value of Anonymous—peaking in 2012 and 2020, according to Google Trends—but might also inspire a new generation of hacktivists.

Cottle expressed that ANON will evolve into a “self-organizing machine, just like Anonymous,” telling Decrypt, “Once it reaches a certain threshold, I want to initiate projects like a scholarship fund to assist young, skilled hackers in achieving vital certifications and advancing their careers.”

While Cottle aims to support “careers,” he clarified that this wouldn’t exclusively pertain to hacking but rather nurturing young individuals similar to his own background. He also noted that these plans are aimed for the future, estimating that ANON would need to reach a $200 million market cap—over a 2,400% increase from its current valuation.

“I’m not establishing a radicalization school,” Cottle remarked with humor. “This initiative is rooted in goodwill and an aim to uplift others.”