Vitalik Buterin adopts Moo Deng with 88 ETH zoo donation

CointelegraphPublished on 2024-12-25Last updated on 2026-07-24

Abstract

Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, the world’s second-largest blockchain network, became the adoptive father of Moo Deng.

Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus that became a viral internet sensation, was adopted by Vitalik Buterin, one of the most popular cryptocurrency founders.


Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, the world’s second-largest blockchain network, became the adoptive father of Moo Deng, Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo announced in a Dec. 26 X post:


“Thank you Vitalik Buterin for joining the Wildlife Sponsorship Program and adopting Moo Deng with a generous gift of 10,000,000 THB for her family!”

Buterin’s donation. Source: Khao Kheow Open Zoo

“We look forward to working with you over the next 2 years,” the announcement added.
Moo Deng rose to viral popularity in September 2024 because of her expressive personality and charming social media videos shared by the Thailand-based zoo.


In response to the announcement, Buterin said he may donate even more than the current 88 Ether (ETH), or $292,000, to the zoo. He wrote in a Dec. 26 X response:


“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.”

Buterin at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo. Source: Vitalik ButerinIn October, Buterin donated over $180,000 in ETH, sent to his address as Moo Deng memecoins to the biotech charity Kanro.


Moo Deng memecoin trader makes $3.4 million before 60% decline


Moo Deng’s global virality inspired the creation of a Solana-based memecoin, and some traders secured significant returns before the meme token shed nearly 60% of its peak valuation.


A savvy investor turned $1,300 into $3.4 million after achieving a remarkable 2,554-fold return on investment on the Moo Deng (MOODENG) token, Cointelegraph reported on Sept. 26.

Savvy Moo Deng trader. Source: LookonchainThis financial gain has raised suspicions among some community members who speculate that an insider or developer may have been involved.


Yet, illustrating the dangers of memecoin trading, the hippo-themed memecoin fell 58% from its all-time high of $0.62 recorded on Nov. 16, 2024, CoinGecko data shows.

MOODENG/USDT, all-time chart. Source: CoinGecko

Over 99% of traders on Solana’s memecoin launchpad, Pump.fun, have lost money or made less than $1,000 worth of profit.


Out of the total 8.5 million wallets, only 50 generated up to $1,000 worth of returns, while five wallets generated between $1,000 and $10,000.

Wallet distribution with profit on Pump.fun. Source: Dune

Only one single wallet managed to generate over $10,000 worth of profit on the memecoin launchpad, Dune data shows.

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