“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 been the herald of some of the most recognizable hacks globally, targeting parties like the Westboro Baptist Church and Bank of America.
Currently, one of its founding members is at the forefront of a Solana-based cryptocurrency initiative, which he refers to as a “movement coin” instead of a conventional meme coin. This token pays tribute to hacktivist culture, aims to assist in funding his ongoing legal challenges, and serves as a vehicle for the evolution of the Anonymous movement.
Aubrey Cottle, better known as Kirtaner or simply Kirt in online spaces, informed the press that he is one of the founders of Anonymous and has frequently been cited as such. Cottle faces a potential five-year prison term after the U.S. Department of Justice charged the Canadian citizen in March for his alleged involvement in a 2021 data breach affecting the Republican Party of Texas.
Following this, an anonymous crypto enthusiast created ANON, a Solana token launched on the Bags launchpad, assigning the associated fees to Cottle. The Canadian embraced the ANON token, which has grown to a market cap of $8 million since its inception on August 15, generating over $59,000 in fees for Cottle.
Cottle shared that part of the fees will go towards funding his legal expenses and ensuring his family’s financial stability “if the worst happens.” Additionally, he mentioned that he is repurchasing the ANON token and reserving portions of the supply for the original members of Anonymous.
“I want every single one of us to make it, all of our old heroes,” Cottle expressed. “People who put their lives on the line, people who sacrificed, people who were hunted down by the feds—these individuals have endured years of trauma from times long past. I want to make sure everyone feels that this wasn’t just a wasted effort where we ended up completely messed up with nothing to show for it.”
Anonymous operates as a decentralized, international hacktivist organization, often symbolized by a Guy Fawkes mask inspired by the novel and film “V for Vendetta.” The group is notorious for conducting numerous high-profile attacks on major corporations and governments they perceive as corrupt.
In 2010, the collective executed DDoS attacks on PayPal, Visa, and MasterCard after these companies blocked donations to WikiLeaks. Furthermore, they declared a cyber war against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“Hacktivism is the only form of power available to the disenfranchised that can still make a significant impact; it’s a necessary pressure valve in society,” Cottle remarked. “It is the only way we can actively resist hostile state and corporate forces.”
The community around the token has fully embraced Anonymous culture, viewing ANON not merely as a meme coin but as a tokenized extension of the original hacktivist movement. One investor mentioned that their objective is to “push a rebellion” against institutions that hinder everyday people.
The group has adopted phrases linked to Anonymous, including their famous motto, while also tweaking slogans from meme coin culture. The phrase “The hat stays on,” associated with the Dogwifhat meme coin community, has been transformed to “The mask stays on,” referencing the Guy Fawkes mask.
ANON investor Tx_Dak has labeled the token “the first real movement coin on Solana.” Speaking to press, they praised Cottle as the “actual founder” of the “biggest decentralized movement in the world,” describing the token as his “legacy project.” They added, “This isn’t merely a coin. It’s a tokenized representation of the movement that has forever influenced internet history. And now it’s going to have a lasting impact on the blockchain.”
While the increase in the token’s value has revitalized the memetic significance of Anonymous—which peaked in 2012 and 2020, according to Google Trends—it may also invigorate the next generation of hacktivists.
Cottle explained that ANON will eventually evolve into a “self-organizing machine, akin to Anonymous itself.” He noted, “Once it reaches a certain threshold, I have initiatives I want to pursue. I aspire to establish a scholarship fund for young, talented hackers to obtain key certifications and advance in their careers. I want to create initiatives, such as funding pools for legal defense behind a nonprofit for hacktivists.”
Cottle clarified that by “careers,” he does not strictly mean careers in hacking; he simply wants to assist youth who were once in his position to thrive. He estimated that to turn this plan into reality, ANON would need to achieve a market cap of $200 million—over a 2,400% increase from its current valuation.
“I’m not establishing a radicalization school,” Cottle said with a laugh. “This endeavor is rooted in goodwill and aimed at uplifting others.”
