Viral Star Moo Deng Turns One, Driving 17% Surge in Solana-Based MOODENG Token to Become Second-Best Performing Crypto

Moo Deng Memecoin Surges As Viral Hippo Celebrates First Birthday In Style

A year after captivating the internet with her chaotic charm, Moo Deng the pygmy hippo is back in the spotlight — this time, not just as a social media star but as the inspiration behind one of Solana’s most talked-about memecoins.

The MOODENG token, named after the now one-year-old zoo celebrity, jumped over 17% on her birthday, securing its spot as the second-best performing crypto asset in the past 24 hours.

Hippo Turns One As Fans Flock To Thai Zoo For Four-Day Festival

At Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, the mood was festive as crowds gathered to mark Moo Deng’s first birthday.

Once a five-kilogram baby with a mischievous streak, Moo Deng now weighs 93 kilograms and is still the centre of attention, despite her growing fondness for sleep over antics.

The celebrations kicked off on 10 July, coinciding with a Thai public holiday, drawing fans from around the world.

One such visitor, Jennifer Tang, took a week off work to attend and travelled from Malaysia to see her favourite animal.

“She’s really special to me, she makes me happy. She’s still really sassy and funny.”

Another fan, TikTok influencer Molly Swindall from New York, prepared Moo Deng’s birthday breakfast.

“She’s an icon and everyone in the world loves her. Fame hasn’t changed her.”

Moo Deng was treated to a tropical fruit cake made of watermelon, dragon fruit, corn, and tomatoes — though her mother Joana ended up eating most of it.

A skincare brand reportedly paid US$3,000 to sponsor the edible arrangement.

Even her bathtub was auctioned off for the same amount to raise funds for the zoo.

From Viral Fame To Token Flame: How A Pygmy Hippo Inspired A Crypto Rally

Moo Deng’s fame began with viral videos showcasing her clumsy energy, earning her over five million followers across platforms and even inspiring songs, merchandise, and now a memecoin.

Launched in September 2024 on the Solana blockchain, MOODENG quickly soared 1,400% within weeks, riding the wave of memecoin mania.

By November 2024, the token hit a peak market cap of US$614 million.

Though it has since retreated, it still trades above US$0.21 — about 66% below its all-time high, according to CoinGecko.

Yet its recent birthday bounce has sparked renewed interest, especially among Solana whales and analysts drawing parallels to early Dogecoin patterns.

Analysts at Messari and CoinGecko note the token's trajectory is heavily influenced by cultural moments.

Some have set mid-term price targets at US$0.30, while more bullish predictions suggest a return above US$0.60 could be possible, depending on continued community engagement and liquidity.

Vitalik’s Connection And Whale Activity Fuel Ongoing Speculation

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin was also swept up in Moo Deng fever.

In October 2024, he sold nearly US$200,000 worth of unsolicited MOODENG tokens sent to his wallet and donated the funds to a biotech charity.

Later, he contributed more to the Khao Kheow zoo and was dubbed Moo Deng’s "adoptive father."

Meanwhile, crypto influencers and YouTube traders are tracking whale wallets previously involved in Solana memecoins like BONK and Popcat, which are now showing steady buy activity on MOODENG.

They’re not just after internet clout — blockchain data shows sustained momentum backed by real liquidity.

Solana's Memecoin Mania Sees New Life

Solana continues to provide a fertile ground for memecoins, thanks to low fees and rapid transaction speeds.

With Bitcoin crossing US$113,500 this week and memecoin launches rising again — especially with Pump.fun’s initial coin offering on the horizon — the environment is ripe for tokens like MOODENG to thrive.

As Moo Deng splashes her way through her birthday week, she’s once again drawing global attention — not just from adoring fans at the zoo but from a trading community ready to follow her every move, both online and on-chain.