X

Tiger King's Carole Baskin launches $CAT cryptocurrency and NFTs

What would Joe Exotic think?

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Expertise Films, TV, Movies, Television, Technology
Richard Trenholm
090920-carole-baskin
Enlarge Image
090920-carole-baskin

Hey all you cool cats and Bitcoins...

Big Cat Rescue

Tiger King cat lady Carole Baskin has launched her own cryptocurrency, with NFTs on the way. Why? Because 2021, that's why.

The new digital currency is called $CAT. It's described as a "fan token" for people to buy merchandise or online experiences from Baskin's Big Cat Rescue animal sanctuary. Prices start at $5.

Baskin is best known as the subject of notorious zoo owner Joe Exotic's vendetta, chronicled in the smash hit Netflix documentary Tiger King. Exotic is currently in prison after being found guilty of attempting to murder Baskin. In March his lawyers objected to his former partner Jeff Lowe, also seen in the Netflix series, selling a Tiger King NFT.

In a statement on the Big Cat Rescue website, Baskin said, "I'm investigating cryptocurrencies because I am concerned about the volume of US dollars that are being printed and distributed with nothing to back them up."

"Our new $CAT coin is not a currency for investment," she added, "but rather is a purr-ency of our fans to show their love for the cats." 

Big Cat Rescue says it will launch nonfungible tokens in about two weeks, should you have a hankering to pay money to not actually own anything while also damaging the environment. Purr-fect!

New Movies Coming in 2023 From Marvel, Netflix, DC and More

See all photos