Moo Deng Meme Coin Surges 1000% to $702.85 Million on Viral Hippo's Birthday Hype

Moo Deng, the viral pygmy hippo, is set to celebrate her first birthday on June 10, and her zoo is planning a grand three-day event to mark the occasion. The Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand will host a series of activities, including a Moo Deng-themed art exhibition, a photo gallery, and a parade of animal mascots. The highlight of the celebration will be a giant cake gifted to Moo Deng on her special day.

Moo Deng captured global attention last year when she was just two months old. Her adorable pictures and videos quickly went viral, drawing crowds to the zoo from all over the world. The popularity of the young hippo was so immense that her enclosure was constantly filled with visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the meme sensation.

In response to Moo Deng's viral fame, an unofficial Solana meme coin of the same name experienced a significant surge in value. The coin initially skyrocketed to a market cap of $336 million in September, before dropping to $63 million the following month. However, the token's value rebounded dramatically, reaching $702.85 million by mid-November 2024, following its listing on the centralized exchange Binance. Despite a subsequent decline, the coin's value has shown resilience, with recent surges indicating renewed interest in Moo Deng as her birthday approaches.

The latest surge in the Moo Deng meme coin's value comes as the internet has once again taken an interest in the adorable hippo. A content creator claimed that the U.S. embassy in Thailand sent Moo Deng a gift, although the zoo has not yet opened it. This renewed attention has contributed to the coin's recent surge, reflecting the enduring popularity of the viral pygmy hippo.