Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has made a heartwarming connection with the animal kingdom by donating 10 million Thai baht (approximately $290,000) to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi Province, Thailand. In return, he has been named the proud “adoptive father” of Moo Deng, a tiny pygmy hippopotamus who became an internet sensation earlier this year and later inspired a Solana-based meme coin.
The Rise of Moo Deng
Moo Deng is no ordinary hippo—she is a rare pygmy hippo born on July 10, 2024. Her playful personality and irresistible cuteness quickly captured hearts on social media. Her name, which translates to “bouncy pork,” was chosen through a public vote, reflecting her energetic spirit. On Dec. 26, Buterin shared the adoption news on X (formerly Twitter), following his donation to the zoo. The zoo expressed gratitude via its social media account, and Buterin responded: “Thanks for the warm welcome to the family and your work for wild animals.”
“I’m happy to be adoptive father to Moo Deng as she grows up over the next [2 years] and support her with my 10M THB donation, maybe more as I set aside 88 ETH for + frens,” Buterin added. His post triggered a flood of animated replies, including a playful snapshot of Buterin with his head poking out of the mouth of a large hippo statue.
The MOODENG Meme Coin Phenomenon
Long before Buterin’s donation, the Moo Deng craze had already swept through the crypto world. Inspired by the baby hippo’s name and likeness, a Solana-based meme token called moo deng (MOODENG) was launched. As of press time, the token boasts a market capitalization of $274 million, with each coin trading at $0.27. That represents a 59% decline from its all-time high of $0.68 reached on Nov. 15, 2024. However, it remains 1,685.3% higher than its all-time low of $0.01545 recorded on Sept. 20, 2024.
MOODENG currently ranks 297th among thousands of digital assets by market cap. While the long-term relevance of meme coins remains uncertain, Buterin’s $290,000 donation provides tangible support to the real-life Moo Deng and her habitat for the next two years.