Vitalik Buterin Adopts Moo Deng with an 88 Ethereum Donation to the Local Zoo

Vitalik Buterin Adopts Viral Pygmy Hippopotamus Moo Deng

In a heartwarming gesture, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of the world’s second-largest blockchain network Ethereum, has adopted Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus that captured the internet’s attention due to her charming personality and social media presence.

The Adoption Announcement

On December 26th, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand announced Vitalik Buterin’s adoption of Moo Deng through an X post. The zoo expressed their gratitude for Buterin’s generous donation of 10 million THB (approximately $292,000 USD) to support the care and well-being of Moo Deng and her family.

"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!" – Khao Kheow Open Zoo

The zoo also mentioned that they look forward to working with Buterin over the next two years. This adoption is a testament to Vitalik’s commitment to supporting conservation efforts and providing a safe haven for animals like Moo Deng.

Moo Deng’s Rise to Fame

Moo Deng gained viral popularity in September 2024 due to her expressive personality and adorable social media videos shared by the Khao Kheow Open Zoo. Her charm and charisma quickly captured the hearts of internet users, leading to the creation of a Solana-based memecoin inspired by her.

Buterin’s Generosity

In response to the announcement, Vitalik Buterin expressed his happiness at becoming Moo Deng’s adoptive father and stated that he may donate even more than the current 88 ETH (approximately $292,000 USD) to the zoo. He mentioned that he has set aside 88 ETH for Moo Deng and her friends.

"I’m happy to be adoptive father to Moo Deng as she grows up over the next 2 years and support her with my 10M THB donation, maybe more as I set aside 88 ETH for [Moo Deng] + frens." – Vitalik Buterin

Buterin’s Previous Donations

In October, Vitalik Buterin donated over $180,000 in ETH to the biotech charity Kanro. The funds were sent to his address as Moo Deng memecoins, highlighting his commitment to supporting charitable causes.

The Creation of Moo Deng Memecoin

Moo Deng’s global virality inspired the creation of a Solana-based memecoin, with some traders securing 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 an impressive 2,554-fold return on investment on the Moo Deng (MOODENG) token.

Dangers of Memecoin Trading

However, this financial gain raised suspicions among some community members who speculated that an insider or developer may have been involved. The dangers of memecoin trading are highlighted by the fact that over 99% of traders on Solana’s memecoin launchpad, Pump.fun, have lost money or made less than $1,000 worth of profit.

Profit Distribution on Pump.fun

According to Dune data, only one wallet managed to generate over $10,000 worth of profit on the memecoin launchpad. The majority of traders (50 wallets) generated up to $1,000 worth of returns, while five wallets generated between $1,000 and $10,000.

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