Unpacking Sudeng ($HIPPO): A Closer Look at the Sui-Based Memecoin

Hippo, known as Sudeng ($HIPPO), has recently been making moves in the already crowded memecoin space. Built on the Sui blockchain, it draws inspiration from Moo Deng, a viral baby pygmy hippo from Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo. This article offers a comprehensive look at the project, its origins, tokenomics, community initiatives, and the upcoming HipHop.fun launchpad, providing readers with clear, actionable insights into its structure and goals.

Origins and Community Roots

Hippo began in 2024 as a fan-driven project celebrating Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo whose playful antics captured global attention online. Unlike many memecoins that rely solely on humor, Hippo ties its identity to a charitable mission. The project donates a portion of its profits to wildlife conservation, starting with Khao Kheow Open Zoo, where Moo Deng resides. In October 2024, Hippo made a 5 million baht donation to the zoo, signaling an early commitment to this cause.

After its original developers stepped back, the community took over, making Hippo a fully community-driven endeavor. This shift has shaped its ethos, emphasizing transparency and collective governance. As of writing, Hippo boasts over 69,700 token holders, with its market cap standing at approximately $38.7 million and a 24-hour trading volume of $42.6 million, according to CoinMarketCap. The token’s price has seen significant volatility, with a 23.7% increase in the last 24 hours and a 107.8% surge over the past week, though it remains 88.88% below its all-time high of $0.03.

Tokenomics and Structure

Hippo’s tokenomics are designed for simplicity and fairness, a hallmark of its community-driven model. The total and maximum supply is 10 billion $HIPPO tokens, all of which are currently circulating. The project launched without private sales or pre-mined tokens, ensuring an even playing field for early adopters. This structure avoids complex emission schedules or lock-ups, making it accessible to retail traders.

The token’s value is tied to trading and community growth, with no intrinsic utility beyond its role as a memecoin. However, the project has introduced deflationary mechanisms through buyback and burn initiatives. According to the Hippo doc, 100% of platform fees from the upcoming HipHop.fun launchpad will fund $HIPPO repurchasing and burning, reducing the circulating supply over time. This approach aims to support price stability, though its long-term impact depends on market conditions and execution. 

Charitable Initiatives and Social Impact

A core pillar of Hippo is its commitment to wildlife conservation. The project pledges 30% of its profits to global wildlife causes, with Khao Kheow Open Zoo as the first beneficiary. 

Hippo’s commitment to social good extends beyond wildlife conservation to include humanitarian efforts. In May 2025, the project launched a significant charity campaign in Niger, a country grappling with severe water scarcity. Over 12.7 million people in Niger lack access to clean drinking water, and only 13% have running water. Recognizing this crisis, Hippo’s team initiated a campaign aimed at addressing these challenges and improving living conditions.

The campaign marked the first phase of Hippo’s broader mission to effect global change. It included the construction of 50 water wells, providing a vital resource to communities in need. Additionally, the project built a mosque, distributed 3,000 iftars, and provided 1,300 Qurans. The campaign also extended support to 300 orphans, offering them assistance in a region where such aid is critical.

HipHop.fun: A Native Launchpad

Hippo is developing HipHop.fun, a meme token launchpad integrated with Cetus, Sui’s leading decentralized exchange. The platform aims to streamline token launches by prioritizing transparency and fairness. It features two discovery paths: curated launches, showcasing projects with strong liquidity and traction, and an open market feed for all launches. 

HipHop.fun employs a bonding curve model, allowing users to buy tokens early without insider advantages. Once a project reaches its bonding curve cap, tokens are automatically listed on Cetus, with liquidity locked into HipHop v2 pools to ensure stability. Platform fees contribute to $HIPPO buybacks and burns, creating a deflationary mechanism. The launchpad also offers grants through the $HIPPO x $SUI Co-Grant Program, providing up to $100,000 for promising projects.

Recent Developments

Hippo has rolled out multiple efforts to strengthen its ecosystem and engage its community. On April 10, the project launched a buyback initiative. The program invites participation from whales, investors, and dedicated community members who contribute to repurchasing $HIPPO tokens from the open market, with the acquired tokens subsequently burned to decrease the total supply. This deflationary mechanism seeks to support price stability and enhance long-term value, though its success depends on sustained participation and market dynamics. 

To incentivize involvement, Hippo offers perks such as access to private whale groups, early project updates, weekly newsletters, custom Telegram titles, and exclusive event invitations. 

Beyond the buyback, Hippo introduced a Telegram app in January 2025 to streamline community interaction. The app enables users to receive real-time updates, participate in discussions, and trade tokens seamlessly, fostering stronger engagement. 

Additionally, the project’s recent listing on Binance Alpha, coupled with the introduction of perpetual futures, expanded its market reach. This move provides traders with new opportunities to engage with $HIPPO, boosting liquidity and visibility.

Looking Ahead

Hippo’s blend of charity, community governance, and ecosystem development sets it apart in the crowded memecoin space.  Its deflationary buybacks and integration with the trending Sui ecosystem provide a foundation for growth. 

However, its long-term success hinges on sustaining community engagement and navigating market volatility.  Those intrigued by Hippo’s vision should monitor its website (hippocto.meme) and social channels on X and Telegram for updates on HipHop.fun and charitable efforts. Be cautious, though—memecoin markets are highly volatile, and thorough research is vital before participating in this speculative space.