Stalled bitcoin (BTC) and crypto prices may not be bringing festive cheer to traders, but some with money are trying to spread the goodwill around.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently made headlines when he announced that he had accepted an invitation to be the “adoptive father” of a pygmy hippo named Moo Deng at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo near Bangkok. In addition to this heartwarming gesture, Buterin also donated 10 million Thai baht ($300,000) to the zoo to support the general operations and create a dedicated habitat for pygmy hippos.
The inspiration behind Buterin’s generous donation was sparked by the warm hospitality he experienced in Thailand during November’s annual Ethereum developer conference. In a letter to the zoo, Buterin expressed his gratitude and described the donation as a “gesture of friendship and respect” towards the country.
Moo Deng, affectionately known as bouncy pork in Thai, gained internet fame earlier this year when images of her went viral online. Alongside her siblings, Moo Toon (stewed pork) and Moo Waan (sweet pork), Moo Deng became a popular meme and even inspired the creation of a memecoin called MOODENG on the Solana network.
Despite the initial success of MOODENG, with a market capitalization exceeding $600 million and listings on major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, the token has experienced a 60% decrease in value since its peak. This decline is attributed to the limited popularity of Moo Deng outside of Thailand and neighboring markets.
Buterin’s act of kindness towards Moo Deng and the Khao Kheow Open Zoo serves as a reminder of the positive impact that individuals can have on wildlife conservation efforts. By supporting initiatives like these, we can help ensure the well-being of endangered species and promote a sustainable future for all living creatures.