Vitalik Buterin adopts meme hippo Moo Deng with 10 million baht

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH), has become the adoptive father of Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo that gained fame as a meme. 

Buterin made headlines by donating 10 million Thai baht to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, where Moo Deng resides. 

This donation not only supports the zoo but also establishes a unique connection between Buterin and the adorable hippo.

Moo Deng, born on July 10, 2024, at the zoo in Chonburi Province, Thailand, quickly captured the hearts of social media users with her playful demeanor and charm. 

Her name, which translates to “bouncy pork,” was chosen through a public vote, reflecting her spirited personality.

On December 26, Buterin announced his adoption of Moo Deng following his generous contribution to the zoo. 

The zoo expressed its gratitude on social media, thanking Buterin for his impactful support. 

“Thanks for the warm welcome to the family and your work for wild animals,” Buterin said in response.

“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. May they live long and prosper,” he added.

Buterin's announcement generated excitement online, with many users sharing images of Moo Deng and other hippo-themed content.

The popularity of Moo Deng had already led to the creation of a Solana-based meme token named after her—moo deng (CRYPTO:MOODENG). 

Currently, MOODENG has a market valuation of $274 million.

Despite questions about the long-term relevance of the token as a meme coin, Buterin's donation will provide essential support for Moo Deng and her care at the zoo over the next two years.

At the time of reporting, the Moo Deng (MOODENG) price was $0.2709.