Moo Deng, a Solana-based memecoin, surged by nearly 40% in the past 24 hours, reaching a price of $0.148791.

The price of the Solana (SOL) memecoin, based on a viral pygmy hippo from Thailand, has surged as the token’s 24-hour trading volume reached $184 million. Despite being highly speculative, Moo Deng (MOODENG) has gained traction, partly driven by social media buzz and strong community engagement.

With a market cap of $148 million, Moo Deng is currently ranked 332nd in the crypto space, according to Coin Insider Daily data.

On Oct. 7, Vitalik Buterin sold 10 billion Moo Deng tokens and donated over $640,000 worth of cryptocurrency to his biotech charity fund, Kanro. The sale generated 308.69 Ethereum (ETH), valued at approximately $762,000, from which Buterin contributed 260.16 Ethereum (about $642,000) to support his cause.

Who is Moo Deng?

Moo Deng, a hippopotamus at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, became an internet sensation at two months old in September 2024. 

The hippo is lively and charismatic, capturing the hearts of many, leading to a surge in popularity that has gone beyond the zoo’s walls. In September 2024, her viral appeal led to a significant spike in zoo visitors, effectively doubling daily attendance numbers, according to the BBC.