Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has donated 10 million Thai baht (approximately $300,000) to support the Khao Kheow Open Zoo near Bangkok and the development of a special exhibit for Moo Deng, a five-month-old pygmy hippo. The donation will help improve zoo operations and create a dedicated habitat for Moo Deng and her family.
Buterin announced his generous contribution in a Thursday post on X, stating that he had accepted the invitation to become Moo Deng’s “adoptive father” when she matures. The donation is a gesture of appreciation for Thailand’s warm hospitality during the Ethereum developer conference held in November. Buterin called the donation a “Christmas present” to Moo Deng, who has become an iconic figure in Thailand, and a symbol of friendship and respect for the country.
Moo Deng, which means “bouncy pork” in Thai, gained viral fame earlier this year after photos of her spread across the internet. She has two siblings: Moo Toon (“stewed pork”) and Moo Waan (“sweet pork”). Moo Deng’s rise to stardom also inspired the creation of a memecoin, MOODENG, on the Solana blockchain. The coin surged in popularity, reaching a market cap of over $600 million in November, following listings on major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase.
MOODENG became the first memecoin based on an animal other than a dog or cat to achieve significant trading volumes, earning the title of Thailand’s first memecoin. However, the coin’s value has dropped by 60% from its peak, as much of Moo Deng’s popularity remains concentrated in Thailand and neighboring markets.
