'Chill Guy' Meme Creator Strikes Deal with Crypto Token Despite Promising to DMCA Unlicensed Materials

In September 2024, a simple drawing of an anthropomorphic animal character started going viral on social media.

The creator of the viral ‘Chill Guy’ character has struck a deal with the makers of the $CHILLGUY token, despite previously promising to DMCA any unlicensed for-profit materials.

In September 2024, a simple drawing of an anthropomorphic animal character started going viral on social media. The drawing was illustrated by X user ‘PhillipBanksss’ in 2023, who described the character as “a chill guy that lowkey doesn’t give a f*ck.”

A year later, Banks’ post took over the internet like wildfire and continues to be one of the top memes months later (that’s like a million years by internet standards).

my new character. his whole deal is he's a chill guy that lowkey doesn't give a fuck pic.twitter.com/aUAb7yFJpJ

It wasn’t long before netizens started making their own creations with the ‘Chill Guy’ character and selling them online — something that Banks wasn’t happy about, especially after a crypto coin arose in the market called $CHILLGUY.

“Just putting it out there, Chill Guy has been copyrighted,” Banks wrote in a post on November 20, 2024. “Like, legally. I’ll be issuing takedowns on for-profit related things over the next few days.”

He went on to explain that he didn’t care if brand accounts used Chill Guy for a trend or meme, but wasn’t a fan of “unauthorized merchandise or sh*tcoins” using his character.

not like brand accounts using him as a trend, that's kinda something i dont really care about (i do just ask for credit. or xboxes.). mainly unauthorized merchandise and shitcoins

‘Chill Guy’ creator strikes deal with crypto token

However, mere weeks later, it seems that Banks has changed his tune. In a post published on December 12, the progenitor of the famous meme says that he struck a deal with the minds behind $CHILLGUY.

“Some members of [the] $CHILLGUY token reached out to me and we had a long discussion,” he explained. “They have been really supportive and nice, and we reached an agreement.

“I’ve decided to provide licensing and IP rights to the $CHILLGUY token and team.”

Any other crypto tokens using the Chill Guy character (which 99% of are scams) will still receive DMCA takedowns.

Banks’ post has received mixed reactions, with some praising the artist for “getting his bag,” while others predict that the $CHILLGUY token will soon be investigated by renowned crypto sleuth Coffeezilla.

Banks has made sure to cash in on his characters’ viral fame, even creating a licensed ‘Chill Guy’ plushie that fans can take home to the tune of $30.