Ethereum Founder Surprises with Unexpected Adoption

On the 19th of last month (local time), Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin visited Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, central Thailand, holding a model of the star baby hippo 'Mudeng'/Photo=Khao Kheow Open Zoo Facebook

The founder of Ethereum has become the 'adoptive father' of Thailand's star hippo Mudeng.

According to local media such as the Bangkok Post and Straits Times on the 27th (local time), Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, central Thailand, where Mudeng resides, announced through its official social networking service (SNS) that Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin donated 10 million baht (approximately 430 million won) to the zoo for Mudeng.

Along with this, a photo of Buterin holding a model of Mudeng was also released.

Buterin is a giant in the cryptocurrency world, having developed and founded Ethereum, which ranks second in global cryptocurrency market capitalization after Bitcoin.

On the 19th of last month, Buterin visited the zoo wearing a shirt with Mudeng on it and met Mudeng in person. It is known that he later sent a letter to the zoo expressing his intention to donate.

The zoo operates an animal sponsorship program where donors become honorary 'adoptive parents' of animals upon donating. Through this, Buterin became Mudeng's adoptive father.

In a letter, Buterin stated, "What could be better than giving a Christmas gift to Mudeng, who is precious to all Thai people," and "I gladly accepted the proposal to become his adoptive father and donate more than 10 million baht in his name as he grows."

Additionally, he expressed being "deeply impressed by the zoo's dedication to animal welfare, education, and promotion related to animals" and was "pleased to hear about the zoo's improvement plans."

The zoo announced that Buterin's donation will be used to create a new area of 1,600 square meters for Mudeng and his hippo family.

Following the news of the donation, the price and trading volume of the meme coin named after Mudeng surged.

According to the cryptocurrency media The Defiant, shortly after the news that Buterin 'adopted' Mudeng, the price of Mudeng Meme Coin increased by about 70%, and the trading volume increased by 1,037%.

Kim So-yeon Hankyung.com reporter sue123@hankyung.com