DIGIVESTASI - According to a report by Coindesk on Sunday (December 29, 2024), Vitalik Buterin, one of Ethereum's co-founders, revealed in a post on platform X that he has accepted an offer to adopt a viral dwarf hippopotamus from Thailand named Moo Deng.

As part of this adoption, Buterin plans to donate 10 million Thai baht, equivalent to approximately 4.7 billion rupiah, to Khao Kheow Open Zoo, the sanctuary caring for the five-month-old hippo located near Bangkok.

Buterin explained that the donation is a gesture of gratitude for the extraordinary hospitality he received while attending the annual Ethereum developers' conference in Thailand in November 2024. Additionally, it symbolizes friendship and respect for the country.

“What better way to do this than with a Christmas gift for someone so beloved by the people of Thailand, Moo Deng, who has now become one of the most unexpected and important global celebrities,” Buterin wrote in his letter to the zoo.

The Moo Deng Phenomenon

Moo Deng gained widespread attention earlier this year after her photos went viral online. She has two siblings, Moo Toon, a male hippopotamus, and Moo Waan, a female hippopotamus.

Moo Deng's popularity even inspired the creation of a memecoin named Moo Deng on the Solana blockchain. The token attracted significant attention, reaching a market capitalization of over USD 600 million in November 2024 after being listed on major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase.

Moo Deng became the first animal-themed token other than those featuring dogs or cats to achieve massive trading volumes. Some analysts have even called it Thailand’s first memecoin.

However, despite its initial surge in popularity, the price of the Moo Deng token has since dropped by 60% from its peak. This decline is largely attributed to the fact that the viral hippo's appeal remains concentrated in Thailand and neighboring countries.

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