Vitalik Buterin adopts Moo Deng and donates $300K to zoo, causing MOODENG coin surge - IcoHolder.
In an unexpected yet heartwarming development, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has become the foster parent of Moo Deng, a famous pygmy hippo at Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo. The announcement, made on December 26, has sent shockwaves through the crypto world, causing the price of the MOODENG meme coin to surge by nearly 70% within just an hour.
Buterin's involvement goes beyond adopting Moo Deng—he has also made a generous donation to support the zoo’s Wildlife Adoption Program. Vitalik pledged a total of 10 million Thai baht (THB), approximately $300,000, to help Moo Deng and her family at the zoo. The donation will be made in two installments, with the first portion paid on the day of the announcement and the second expected within the year.
In a heartfelt statement, Buterin expressed his excitement, saying, “I am delighted to accept your invitation to be Moo Deng’s adoptive father while she grows up. I am also happy to donate in her name to support the zoo and its ongoing conservation efforts.” This gesture is part of Buterin's broader philanthropic efforts, as he has previously advocated for charity donations, especially from the crypto world, and even sent portions of the meme coins he receives to various charitable causes.
The news of Buterin’s adoption and donation has significantly impacted the MOODENG meme coin, which has seen an impressive 70% price increase in just 24 hours. The coin, which operates on the Ethereum blockchain, saw its trading volume skyrocket by 275%, with some exchanges reporting a 300% increase in volume over the past day. The coin’s price fluctuated between a low of $0.0001206 and a high of $0.0002446 before stabilizing at $0.0001942.
The MOODENG coin has also gained attention from traders in the derivatives market, where the futures open interest rose by 9% in just four hours, reaching a total value of $115.42 million. Crypto exchanges, including Coinbase, have shown their support by listing the token, further fueling the surge in interest and market activity.
Buterin’s actions are being seen as a Christmas gift to the broader community, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to charitable causes. This move also aligns with his appreciation for meme coins that dedicate part of their supply to charitable donations, a sentiment he has voiced in recent months.
However, while the price of MOODENG has skyrocketed, the Solana-based version of the token has seen a slight dip, down by more than 1% in the past 24 hours, trading at $0.2772.
Buterin’s adoption of Moo Deng and his sizable donation have not only brought attention to the zoo and its conservation efforts but have also sparked renewed interest in the crypto market, especially in meme coins tied to charitable causes. As the story of Moo Deng and Vitalik Buterin continues to unfold, it is clear that this unlikely partnership has made a significant impact on both the crypto and wildlife conservation communities.
