Vitalik has decided to donate 10 million Baht to the Khao Kheow Zoo, where the famous hippopotamus Moo Deng resides.
Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, continues to show his interest in charitable activities by committing to donate 10 million Thai Baht (approximately $292,230 USD) to the Khao Kheow Zoo in Thailand, home to the famous hippopotamus Moo Deng.
This information was shared by the administrator of the MOODENG project on Twitter and was officially confirmed by the zoo on their official Facebook page on December 26.
According to the Bangkok Post, Vitalik Buterin visited Moo Deng, the 5-month-old pygmy hippopotamus, at the Khao Kheow Zoo in Si Racha, Chon Buri Province, on November 19. During the visit, Vitalik wore a shirt featuring Moo Deng and brought a Pad Krapao bag as a gift for the hippopotamus's caretaker.
The zoo's management expressed their excitement about collaborating with Vitalik over the next two years to develop the Khao Kheow community and bring benefits to all visitors. The zoo also shared a preliminary plan for how they intend to develop the animal enclosure area in the future.
The donated amount will be used to enhance the zoo’s operational capacity, support wildlife conservation programs, and build a dedicated area for Moo Deng and his family.
In a letter to the zoo, Vitalik Buterin expressed his desire to become Moo Deng's godfather and make this donation as a Christmas gift for Moo Deng, whom he considers to have become one of the world’s most famous mascots and a pride of the Thai people.
The 10 million Baht donation will be split into two installments. The first installment of 5 million Baht will be transferred on December 26, 2024. The second installment of 5 million Baht, along with any additional potential contributions (if any), will be announced before December 26, 2025.
The donation is being split to ensure that resources are allocated and used effectively over time.
This is not the first time Vitalik Buterin has engaged in charitable activities related to the hippopotamus Moo Deng.
In October 2024, he sold 10 billion MOODENG tokens through the decentralized exchange CowSwap, raising 308.69 ETH (approximately $762,000). He then donated 260.16 ETH (approximately $642,000) to the Kanro charity fund, which he co-founded.
Earlier, in May 2021, he liquidated 50% of the total supply of SHIB, raising 1.2 billion USD and donating over 1.7 billion USD to global charitable organizations, including the Covid Relief Fund in India.
MOODENG is a meme coin created based on inspiration from the hippopotamus Moo Deng. "Moo Deng" in Thai means "jumping pig." MOODENG can be seen as a type of Fan Token, symbolizing affection for the hippopotamus.
According to data from Coinmarketcap, after Vitalik's sponsorship announcement, the MOODENG meme coin on the Ethereum platform (different from MOODENG on Solana) surpassed a market capitalization of $85 million, currently standing at $85.47 million with a 24-hour growth of 59.5%.
Vitalik Buterin's actions highlight the growing interest within the cryptocurrency community in charitable and conservation activities. Using meme coins to raise funds for charity is a fresh and effective approach that attracts community attention and creates a positive impact on society.
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