Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has officially adopted Mo Ding, the pygmy hippopotamus who has become an internet phenomenon.
Buterin contributed 88 ether, worth about $292,000, to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, where Mo Ding resides.
Moo Deng Meme Coin Surges After Buterin's Donation
Born on July 10, 2024, Mo Deng gained international attention at just two months old when his photos went viral on social media. Khao Kheow Open Zoo shared his photos on its official Facebook page, sparking a wave of popularity.
Mo Ding's fans responded enthusiastically, prompting the park to launch merchandise featuring his image. This surge in interest doubled the park's daily visitor numbers in September 2024.
Buterin posted on X (formerly Twitter): "Thank you for the warm welcome into the family and your work for wildlife! I am happy to be a foster father to Mo Ding as she grows over the next 2 years and support her with my donation of 10M THB, and possibly more as I have allocated 88 ETH to Mo Ding + friends. Wishing them a long and prosperous life."
Meanwhile, a meme coin called MOODENG was launched in the same month based on its popularity. The token’s creator donated over 10 billion MOODENG tokens to Buterin.
However, the Ethereum co-founder sold the tokens, stating that the proceeds would go to charity. Buterin has long been an advocate for using meme coins to make a positive global impact. He has previously emphasized the importance of using these tokens for meaningful contributions.
Following Buterin’s donation of 88 ETH, MOODENG’s value has surged more than 70% in the past 24 hours. The meme coin has seen a 125% increase this week. The donation highlights how community-driven cryptocurrency projects, often seen as speculative, can support charitable initiatives.
Meme Coin Mo Ding
The Bright Side of Meme Coins
Another example of meme coins promoting goodwill is seen in the story of Mira. Earlier this year, Runway founder Siqi Chen faced a personal tragedy.
Chen's 4-year-old daughter, Mira, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. While the tumor was benign, its critical location posed significant risks.
Inspired by the situation, an X user named Waddles created a meme coin called Mira on Solana, pledging to dedicate half of its supply to Chen. In a show of gratitude, Chen pledged to donate all proceeds from the coin to research.
These examples underscore how meme coins, often viewed as speculative assets, can create lasting positive impacts through collective goodwill and charitable efforts.
