Vitalik Buterin Donates 88 ETH to Adopt Moo Deng
Vitalik Buterin donates 88 ETH to adopt viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng, boosting zoo support and causing a surge in the MOODENG meme coin's value.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has donated 88 ETH to adopt Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo that became an internet sensation. The contribution, valued at approximately $292,000, was made to Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo, where the beloved animal resides.
Moo Deng gained worldwide fame after her photos went viral on social media when she was just two months old. Shared on the zoo’s official Facebook page, the images sparked massive interest, doubling the zoo’s daily visitors in September 2024. The hype even led to merchandise featuring Moo Deng, further boosting the zoo’s visibility.
Buterin expressed his excitement on X (formerly Twitter), saying he was proud to support Moo Deng and set aside 10 million THB ($292,000) for her care, hinting at possible future donations. In response to Moo Deng's viral fame, the MOODENG meme coin was launched, with its creator donating over 10 billion tokens to Buterin. However, Buterin sold these tokens, clarifying that the proceeds would be directed towards charitable causes.
Following Buterin’s ETH donation, the MOODENG token’s value skyrocketed, surging over 70% in 24 hours and marking a 125% increase throughout the week. This surge illustrates the potential of meme coins to drive positive change, despite their often-speculative nature.
Buterin has long championed the idea of using cryptocurrencies, including meme tokens, to create meaningful social impact. His recent donation reinforces the potential of decentralized financial tools to support global causes.
Another example of the charitable power of meme coins is the MIRA token. Earlier this year, Siqi Chen, the founder of Runway, revealed that his daughter Mira was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. While the tumor was benign, its critical location made treatment challenging.
Moved by the story, an X user named Waddles launched the MIRA meme coin on Solana, pledging half of its supply to Chen. In return, Chen committed to donating all proceeds from the coin to fund vital medical research.
Both MOODENG and MIRA highlight how meme coins, often dismissed as speculative assets, can become powerful tools for goodwill and collective action. These cases serve as a reminder that the world of cryptocurrency isn’t just about profits—it can also create lasting positive change.
