The day Vitalik Buterin decided to adopt a baby hippo started like any other December morning. Who would’ve thought that the co-founder of Ethereum would end up falling for a tiny pygmy hippo named Moo Deng at a Thai zoo? But that’s exactly what happened at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand.
If you’ve been on Thai social media lately, you’ve probably seen Moo Deng. This adorable little hippo became an internet sensation, with people sharing videos of her playful swimming and cute antics. Buterin, who’s spent a lot of time in Thailand for various Ethereum events, couldn’t help but be charmed by her, too.
Fresh off speaking at Devcon SEA, Buterin did something completely unexpected. He donated a whopping 10 million baht (about $294,000) to the zoo’s Wildlife Sponsorship Program. But here’s the best part — he didn’t just write a check. He actually adopted Moo Deng, committing to support her care and habitat improvements for the next two years.
I love what he wrote to the zoo — it was really touching. He talked about how adopting Moo Deng was his way of giving back to Thailand, a country that had shown him so much kindness during his visits. The donation was split into two parts, with the first payment made on December 26, 2024. Since the news broke, the zoo has been packed with visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of…