Vitalik Buterin ‘Adopts’ a Dwarf Hippopotamus

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has donated 10 million Thai baht (~$300,000) to the Khao Kheow Zoo, home to the internet meme star—a dwarf hippopotamus named Moo Deng.

Thank you Vitalik Buterin @VitalikButerin for joining the Wildlife Sponsorship Program and adopting Moo Deng with a generous gift of 10,000,000 THB for her family! We look forward to working with you over the next 2 years for the benefit of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo community & all… pic.twitter.com/Ykrr53Y2tZ

— สวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว Khao Kheow Open Zoo (@KhaokheowZoo) December 26, 2024

The programmer visited the Thai zoo in November, coinciding with the Devcon SEA 2024 conference in Bangkok. He provided the hippo’s caretakers with food, met the animals, and participated in a photo session.

The recent donation will be used to expand exhibitions and improve the zoo’s facilities. In its post, the Khao Kheow administration shared a plan of the proposed enhancements.

“I am delighted to accept your invitation to become Moo Deng’s adoptive father as she grows, and to donate at least 10 million baht to the zoo,” Buterin wrote.

The Ethereum founder described his donation as a “Christmas gift for one of Thailand’s most unexpected and important celebrities.”

Previously, the programmer received over 60 billion Moodeng meme tokens from community members. In October, he sold about 21 billion tokens and donated part of the proceeds to charity.

Back in late October, Vitalik Buterin donated 400 ETH to four Ukrainian humanitarian non-profit organizations.