Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has officially adopted Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus who became an internet sensation.
Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has officially adopted Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus who became an internet sensation. Buterin contributed 88 Ether, valued at approximately $292,000, to Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, where Moo Deng resides.
Moo Deng, born on July 10, 2024, gained international attention at just two months old when her photos went viral on social media. The Khao Kheow Open Zoo shared her images on its official Facebook page, sparking a wave of popularity. Fans of Moo Deng responded enthusiastically, leading the zoo to launch merchandise featuring her likeness. This surge in interest doubled the zoo’s daily visitors in September 2024.
“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 2y and support her with my 10M THB donation, maybe more as I set aside 88 ETH for Moo Deng + frens. May they live long and prosper,” Buterin posted on X (formerly Twitter)
A meme coin named MOODENG was also launched the same month based on its popularity. The creator of the token donated over 10 billion MOODENG tokens to Buterin. However, the Ethereum co-founder sold these tokens, stating that the proceeds would go to charitable causes. Buterin has been a consistent proponent of using meme coins for positive global impact. He previously highlighted the importance of using such tokens for meaningful contributions.
Following Buterin's 88 ETH donation, MOODENG's value spiked over 70% in the past 24 hours. The meme coin has seen a 125% increase this week. The donation highlights how community-driven crypto projects, often viewed as speculative, can support charitable initiatives.
Another example of meme coins fostering goodwill is the story of Mira. Earlier this year, Siqi Chen, founder of Runway, faced a personal tragedy.
Chen’s four-year-old daughter, Mira, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. While the tumor was benign, its critical location posed significant risks. Inspired by the situation, an X user named Waddles created the MIRA meme coin on Solana, pledging half of its supply to Chen. Showing gratitude, Chen vowed to donate all proceeds from the coin to research.
These examples showcase how meme coins, often dismissed as speculative assets, can create lasting positive impacts through collective goodwill and charitable efforts.
