Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin 'adopts' viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng with $293,000 donation to Thai zoo
Quick Take Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has donated over $293,000 to a Thai zoo to “adopt” Moo Deng, the pygmy hippopotamus that achieved viral fame in 2024. Buterin said he made the donation in recognition of the hospitality of the Thai people during Ethereum-related events in the country, such as November’s Devcon SEA conference held in Bangkok.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has become the "adoptive father" of viral pygmy hippopotamus Moo Deng after donating at least 10,000,000 Thai baht (about $293,000 USD, or about 88 ETH) to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, which houses the artiodactyl.
The donation will support "the operations of Khao Kheow Open Zoo, the Wildlife Sponsorship Program, and the development of a dedicated exhibit for Moo Deng and her family," according to a letter Buterin posted to X .
The donation comes as a result of a visit Buterin made to the zoo and was made in recognition of the "wonderful hospitality of Thailand and the Thai people" during Ethereum events held in the country in 2024, including November's Devcon SEA conference .
"On behalf of the whole Ethereum ecosystem, I would like to offer our thanks and a gesture of friendship to all of the country...What better way to do that than through a Christmas present to someone who is dear to all Thai people, Moo Deng, and who has become one of the most unexpected and important Thai celebrities on the world stage," Buterin wrote.
"We look forward to working with you over the next 2 years for the benefit of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo community all our visitors," the zoo's X account wrote on X in response to Buterin's donation.
Moo Deng is a pygmy hippopotamus, an endangered species much smaller than its "common hippopotamus" relatives. Her name, chosen through a public poll, translates to "bouncy pork" or "bouncy pig" in English. The months-old animal shot to international fame in 2024, spurred by viral videos and images of the playful, energetic creature — especially those where she's seen attempting to bite her caretakers.
Moo Deng also became a celebrity in the crypto sphere thanks to the prominent memecoin that bears her name, which was recently added to Coinbase's listing roadmap . The token currently has a market capitalization of over $270 million, down from its all-time high of over $614 million on Nov. 15, according to The Block's Moo Deng Price Page .
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Polymarket returns to the United States—where is the next opportunity for prediction markets?
For prediction markets to achieve scale, they require high leverage, high-frequency trading, and high-value market outcomes.

Cryptocurrencies are loving the rally in Bitcoin – Crypto outlook

Crypto VC Rounds Fall 25% in September, Funding Totals $5.12B
Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. The number of publicly disclosed VC rounds dropped 25.3% month-over-month to 62 in September. Despite the fall in deal volume, total funding rose 5.2% from August to $5.12 billion, a 740% increase year-over-year. The funding surge was led by large deals, including Forward Industries ′ $1.65B private placement and Figure Technology ′ s $787M IPO for RWA. Investors are becoming more selective, favoring CeFi (21%) and DeFi (25.8%) projects, while NFTs/Gam
MetaMask Google Login Raises Risk of Cloud-Stored Wallet Keys
Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. MetaMask introduced a feature allowing users to log in with their Google or iCloud credentials and back up encrypted wallet data (including private keys) to the cloud. The feature was flagged by Cos of SlowMist as a major security risk, as a compromise of the cloud account could lead to the loss of all linked wallets. The system encrypts the mnemonic file, with the wallet unlock password serving as the decryption key. The development highlights the ten
Trending news
MoreCrypto prices
More








