Kraken Crowdsources Ink Mascot Name with JokeRace-Powered Paid Contest – $Prizes & Memes Await!

Crypto exchange Kraken just turned meme culture into a marketing strategy—launching a paid naming contest for its new 'Ink' mascot via decentralized platform JokeRace. Because nothing says 'community engagement' like monetized crowdsourcing.

Subheader: Web3 Meets Branding 101

The move blurs the line between community building and cheap labor—offering crypto rewards for the winning submission while farming free creative input. Classic Kraken: equal parts clever and cynical.

Subheader: Degens, Start Your Engines

Expect a flood of ink-themed puns and anime references as crypto’s meme armies mobilize. Bonus points if the winning name somehow ties back to 'laser eyes' or 'wen lambo.'

Closing Thought: In bull markets, even mascots get monetized. Just don’t ask about the tax implications of your contest winnings.

TLDR

• Kraken has launched a community contest to name the new mascot for its Ethereum Layer 2 network called Ink.
• The contest is being hosted on the blockchain-based platform JokeRace, which supports onchain voting and submissions.
• Participants can earn rewards by submitting name ideas and voting on their favorite entries.
• The mascot is a purple cartoon monster that will represent the Ink network built using the OP Stack.
• Kraken is using this contest to strengthen community engagement around its Optimism-based Layer 2 chain.

Kraken has initiated a contest inviting users to name the new mascot for its ethereum Layer 2 network, Ink. The company will reward participants through a blockchain-based platform called JokeRace. This initiative marks another move by Kraken to increase engagement around its in-house Optimism-based chain.

Kraken developed Ink using the OP Stack, aiming to enhance Ethereum’s scalability and performance with lower fees. Now, the firm wants to give its purple cartoon monster mascot an official name. Through this effort, Kraken is turning to its growing community for participation and creativity.

The contest will take place on JokeRace, a platform built for running onchain contests across EVM-compatible blockchains. Users will submit name ideas and vote on their favorites in exchange for rewards. Kraken plans to make the mascot central to Ink’s branding and communication.

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

The mascot appears in purple with sharp features and has become a symbol of Ink’s emergence in the Layer 2 space. Kraken intends for this community-driven contest to foster deeper ties between users and the new network. This comes as the exchange continues expanding its Layer 2 presence in the Ethereum ecosystem.

JokeRace Powers the Naming Process with Vote-to-Earn Mechanics

JokeRace facilitates the contest through a model where users earn by submitting and voting on entries. This system uses a pay-per-vote mechanism to reduce spam and ensure fairness in selection. The winning name will be chosen based on community consensus and rewarded accordingly.

Founded in 2022, JokeRace supports over 90 Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible chains. Its system allows smart contracts to trigger actions like token transfers based on contest results. Major networks like Polygon and Farcaster have used the platform.

In July 2024, JokeRace received $3 million in funding, led by Maven 11 and over 100 angel investors. The funding will support marketing and expand its adoption across Web3 communities. Kraken’s partnership with JokeRace highlights growing trust in decentralized decision-making tools.

The Ink Foundation plans to issue the INK token in 2025 to drive ecosystem development. The token’s supply will be capped at 1 billion and will be used to incentivize liquidity, governance, and long-term network activity.