Crypto Trollface Surges, Creator Says No!
Overview
Carlos Ramirez, the artist behind the legendary Trollface meme, gave his first interview in 10 years to Decrypt. In it, he made it clear that he does not support nor intend to sue anyone, despite dozens of meme coins using his artwork on the Solana blockchain.
The TROLL meme coin has surged over 1,050% in just two weeks, jumping from a $16 million market cap to more than $184 million, placing it among the top 32 meme coins globally. Still, Ramirez is completely uninterested.
Artist’s Viewpoint: “Crypto Devalues Art”
“I don’t care about the money if I can’t sell it. But if I do sell it, I crash the token. I don’t want to be responsible for anyone’s financial ruin.”— Carlos Ramirez
Ramirez believes the current crypto environment is too profit-driven, stripping away the authenticity of artistic expression. He calls accepting tokens a "cursed proposition" — he can't use or sell them without disrupting the market.
The Promotion Scandal & “I’m Doing Nothing” Statement
Back in April, Ramirez promoted a different Troll meme coin, one marketed as “officially supported by the artist,” but later deleted the post, and the token faded into obscurity. When asked whether he was hacked, Ramirez replied ambiguously: “If I said I was hacked, would anyone believe me? Everyone believes the version of the story they want.”
Despite his claim of not being involved, just one day after the interview, Ramirez shared another Troll meme coin on his social media. That token spiked to $900,000, but plummeted 97% within the hour.
Legal Standpoint: Copyright Registered, But No Lawsuit
Though Trollface was copyrighted in 2010, giving Ramirez the full legal rights to sue for unauthorized use, he chooses to remain silent: “I’m not going to do anything. I endorse nothing and I won’t interfere.”
Intellectual property attorneys confirm that Ramirez could easily demand takedowns, file lawsuits, or seek compensation for copyright infringement — if he wanted to.
New Project: A Secret Game, No Trollface Involved
Ramirez revealed he is developing a video game in secret, one that belongs to an entirely new genre, and he intends to keep his name off it: “When it launches, no one will know I made it. And I want to keep it that way for as long as possible.”
He also declined to speak about any new characters he’s working on, fearing they’ll be turned into meme coins before he can properly release them.
Conclusion
The Troll meme coin boom raises serious questions about the boundary between art, digital assets, and copyright respect. Though he could ride the wave to make millions, Carlos Ramirez has chosen to step back, staying true to his art and preserving its original value.