Vitalik Becomes the “Godfather” of Hippo Moo Deng

During his visit to Khao Kheow Zoo in Thailand, Vitalik Buterin, the creator of Ethereum, attracted attention by wearing a hippo-patterned shirt and having a delightful meeting with Moo Deng, a 5-month-old pygmy hippo who has recently gone viral on social media.

“Moo Deng the Jumping Pig” has not only won the hearts of the online community with her adorable clumsy moments but has also inspired a meme coin named after her. The MOODENG token on Ethereum surged 78% within 24 hours, reaching a market cap of $87 million, while the Solana version saw a slight decrease of 2.5%.

Impressed by Moo Deng, Vitalik donated 10 million baht (approximately $292,230) and became her “foster parent” for the next two years. This support will be disbursed in two phases, starting on December 26, 2024.

Related: Vitalik Buterin Nominated for Nobel Prize

Interestingly, Vitalik had previously “cleared out” 10 billion MOODENG tokens that were airdropped, dedicating 80% of the proceeds to support the Kanro Fund. This action not only demonstrates his commitment to using meme coins for charitable purposes but also creates a meaningful bridge between blockchain technology and wildlife conservation efforts.