In the ever-evolving world of memecoins, few tokens capture the whimsy and virality of their inspirations like MOODENG, a Solana-based coin born from the internet's obsession with a baby pygmy hippo named Moo Deng.
What is the MOODENG crypto token?
$MOODENG is a Solana-based memecoin that launched at the beginning of September shortly after pygmy hippo Moo Deng began to reach virality on the internet.
It is unclear who originally launched the token on pump.fun but it quickly rocketed to one of the most traded memecoins by surpassing a $200M market cap within several weeks (with a current peak of $300M+).
- Ticker: MOODENG
- Circulating Supply: 989,971,791
- Total Supply: 989,971,791
See the CoinGecko listing for real time status.
Who is Moo Deng?
Moo Deng is a baby pygmy hippopotamus (hippo) that went viral on TikTok and Instagram as her playful and silly nature resonated with people around the world. Located in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo (one hour from Bangkok), Moo Deng's popularity has brought a tremendous amount of attention to the Chon Buri district in Thailand.
Moo Deng is a unique species of hippo which is significantly smaller than their gargantuan 2200+ kilogram (5,000 pounds) counterparts. Just two months old now, by the time she is full grown the hippo will stand less than 1 meter tall (~3 feet).
For a live look at Moo Deng, check out the zoo's 24/7 livestream here.
Atthapon “Benz” Nundee, the social media-savvy keeper who helped turn baby hippo Moo Deng into a global superstar, has been named the employee of the month for September by the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand.
Bangkok Post
Pygmy Hippopotamuses are classified as "Endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and there are reportedly fewer than 2,500 remaining in the world. They are native to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast. These countries massive habitat destruction has led the species to a precarious state.
Fun fact: Moo Deng is Thai for 'bouncy pork'.
Why did Moo Deng go viral?
Moo Deng may have the most famous yawn in the world right now. Videos of her galivanting with zookeepers and demonstrating what can best be described as 'derpy' behavior have blown up on short form content platforms like X, TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.
It has become commonplace for animals to have their "own" social media pages that are dedicated to photos and videos of the cute creatures.
In less than two weeks, there have been more than 2.2 million posts on X about Moo Deng, our favorite meme queen.
XData, September 21
Corporate brands have jumped onto the 'animal influencer' bandwagon and routinely incorporate them as part of their marketing strategies (in some cases featuring them in official advertisements). Moo Deng is no different and powerhouses like McDonalds, Puma and several NBA teams have jumped on the bandwagon.
Moo Deng's popularity has brought attention to the plight of endangered animals and the destruction of native habitats around the world. Hippopotamuses in particular have been impacted by clear cut logging and subsequent use of former forest land for agriculture.
Due to their small size, pygmy hippopotamuses are popular targets for poaching. Their larger counterparts are known for being one of the most dangerous animals in the world where as the pygmy variety provides a safe opportunity for hunters.
Famed Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin recently sold a bag of $MOODENG and in turn donated 260 $ETH to charity.
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