Co-founder of Ethereum Vitalik Buterin donated $293,000 to a Thai zoo and "adopted" a popular pygmy hippopotamus named Moo Deng.

According to The Block, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, donated more than $293,000 to a Thai zoo to ‘adopt’ Moo Deng, a baby hippopotamus that became famous in 2024.

Buterin said his donation was to thank the Thai people for their warm hospitality during the ETH-related events, including the Devcon SEA conference held in Bangkok in November.

Buterin donated at least 10,000,000 baht (about 293,000 U.S. dollars) and became the “adoptive father” of Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo. The zoo said on X, “We look forward to working with you over the next two years to benefit the Khao Kheow Open Zoo community and all visitors.”

Moo Deng is an endangered pygmy hippopotamus, much smaller in size than its ‘common hippopotamus’ relatives. Her name was chosen through public voting and translates to ‘Bouncing Pig’ in English. This few-month-old animal quickly became popular in 2024 due to its lively and adorable image, especially videos and photos of her attempting to bite the caregivers, which sparked a lot of attention.

Buterin’s donation will be used for “the operation of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, wildlife sponsorship projects, and the development of exclusive exhibitions for Moo Deng and her family,” he mentioned in a letter posted on X.

The donation was made in recognition of Thailand and the Thai people’s ‘beautiful hospitality’ in the 2024 Ethereum event, including the Devcon SEA conference in November, following Buterin’s visit to the zoo.

In the letter, Buterin said, ‘On behalf of the entire Ethereum ecosystem, I extend gratitude and friendship to the people of this country… There is no better way to express this sentiment than by giving Moo Deng, who is cherished by all Thai people, the unexpected and significant Thai celebrity on the international stage.’