Kraken’s L2 Ink Seeks Mascot Name As The Trend Grows Among Web3 Brands

Kraken's L2 project Ink has launched an official contest to name its official brand Mascot. The move highlights the growing trend in web3 about using mascots for branding.

Published by

Sneha Agrawal

July 7, 2025

New Product Kraken’s L2 Ink Seeks Mascot Name As The Trend Grows Among Web3 Brands

Kraken’s Ink:- Leading crypto Exchange Kraken’s Layer-2 network Ink is following an emerging trend in web3. It has launched paid contest for users to name its Mascot which characterizes a purple, spiky cartoon monster.

In a recent X post, the network wrote, “He’s gone too far..and now he’s just down bad. Because everyone keeps asking the one question he can’t answer – his name. You name him

This move by Kraken’s Ink project while being symbolic of powerful user-engagement strategy does also exemplifies the growing trend in blockchain – Mascots.

Mascots are symbolic characters such as animals, objects, or anthropomorphized figures which are used by organizations to represent their brand. They foster emotional connection, and help in tangible marketing.

he’s gone too far
too many events
too much attention
and now he’s just down bad.

because everyone keeps asking the one question he can’t answer.

his name.

now, he's spiraling…

you name him.
we’ll pay you. pic.twitter.com/HHhuiMSk7i

— ink (@inkonchain) July 3, 2025

Kraken’s L2 Network Ink is Seeking a Mascot Name

Kraken’s Layer-2 network, Ink, is its own Optimism‑based Layer‑2 chain, built on the OP Stack under the Optimism Superchain initiative.

The exchange launched the chain as “the new DeFi destination” and made its mainnet launch in Dec 2024. It features sub‑second block finality, dual block types and native integration of Kraken’s order‑book engine,.

Now, the layer-2 is actually following a niche yet a growing trend in web3 by building its official brand Mascot. Its purple, spiky cartoon creature is set to be named by an on‑chain naming contest. The contest is inviting users to submit and vote on mascot names, with top contributors earning on‑chain rewards in HYPE tokens.

It is interesting to note that for this contest, Ink is levergaing JokeRace, an on‑chain competition protocol founded in 2022 by David Phelps and Siobhan McCaffery.

Also Read : New Prediction Market XO Receives Funding

The Sybil‑resistant mechanism charges a small fee per vote to deter spam and ensures fair, transparent outcomes executed via smart contracts. The mascot launch also aligns with the timeline as the project aims to launch the INK token too this year.

Mascots: A Growing Trend in Blockchains and Web3?

Though still not a universal phenomenon, several blockchain projects are adopting mascots to enhance their brand identity and connect with their communities. For example, the NFT Marketplace Magic Eden has an official mascot named Emmy. Last year in November, crypto wallet Phantom unveiled Spooky, a playful little ghost side‑kick as their “first‑ever mascot”.

phantom username — Phantom Wallet’s Mascot

Further, the other web3 brands do have Mascot distinctions and characterizations but they are yet not official. For example, Ethereum does not have an officially designated brand mascot. However, there is only a well-known logo, often depicted as a diamond shape, and no official mascot recognized by the Ethereum Foundation.

Mascots have long been a staple in traditional branding but it is only recently that they have gained traction among crypto platforms. Adopting it helps in humanizing a Technical Protocol by conveying complex ideas such as consensus, rollups, governance through an approachable character. It can also lower the barrier for newcomers into web3 by giving them a “friendly face” to associate with the chain or the brand.

Thus, the official mascots are becoming a novel frontier in blockchain branding with more blockchains similar to Kraken’s Ink and brands likely to follow the same trend.

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About Author

With over four years of experience in covering and tracking the financial markets, Sneha Agrawal is a dedicated Crypto Journalist and Editor with passion for researching and writing the crypto pieces. She is currently leading the Brandtalk section, here at CoinGape. She likes to keep track of political, legal and financial happenings all around the world - without which she deems her day incomplete. Apart from her Journalistic endeavours, she is a solo traveler, museum goer, and a keen reader of books.