Thailand’s viral pygmy hippo inspires a $300 million memecoin in just two weeks
Moo Deng, a rare pygmy hippo born in Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, has taken the internet by storm—and now, she’s making waves in the world of cryptocurrency. In just two weeks, a memecoin named after the adorable baby hippo has surged in value, reaching a market capitalization of over $300 million.
Viral sensation turns crypto gold
Moo Deng’s rise to fame began when videos of her playful antics—running, eating, and being bathed by zookeepers—went viral, capturing the hearts of millions worldwide. As her internet fame grew, so did the frenzy around her, eventually leading to the creation of a memecoin, launched on September 11, 2024, on the Solana blockchain.
The Moo Deng Token, riding on the back of her viral cuteness, skyrocketed in value by nearly 1400% within the first week of its launch. By the end of September, the token had grown into a $300 million market cap, making early investors potentially very wealthy. According to data from Arkham, an $800 investment in Moo Deng Token ballooned to a staggering $3.5 million in just 15 days.
A booming memecoin economy
The Moo Deng memecoin is not alone. Following its success, similar coins named after her mother, Jonah, and her siblings, Moo Toon and Moo Waan, were also launched. The frenzy shows no signs of slowing down, with even a single investor reportedly spending over $4 million in Solana tokens to become the second-largest holder of the Moo Deng coin.
Social media and celebrity endorsements boost value
Adding fuel to the fire, an unofficial fan page dedicated to Moo Deng has gained nearly 50,000 followers on Twitter. Major companies such as Microsoft, DreamWorks, and Universal Pictures have jumped on the bandwagon, creating and sharing Moo Deng-themed memes on their social media platforms. Even Bayern Munich, the famed German football club, shared Moo Deng “reaction” memes during their UEFA League performance.
Microsoft’s Windows account joined in, tweeting: “ctrl + alt + Moo Deng,” further pushing the memecoin’s popularity. These endorsements from global brands are further driving up the token’s value as Moo Deng’s cuteness takes the crypto world by storm.
Who is Moo Deng?
Moo Deng was born in July 2024 at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, located in Si Racha, Chonburi province. She is a pygmy hippopotamus, a critically endangered species native to West Africa, with only around 2,000 remaining in the wild. Her newfound fame has not only sparked joy across the internet but has also raised awareness about the plight of pygmy hippos, adding another layer of significance to her story.
As Moo Deng continues to captivate audiences and drive the value of her namesake memecoin, the baby hippo’s influence on both internet culture and the cryptocurrency market has become an unprecedented phenomenon.