The Legend of the Blockscout Capybara
Speaking of capybaras, did you know that:
- Capybaras are native only to South America.
- They can hold their breath underwater for up to 5 minutes.
- Other animals often use them as living chairs.
- The Catholic Church once classified them as fish for Lent.
- They have at last found true fame as the official mascot of Blockscout.
This is the story behind our unique mascot - the Blockscout Capybara. The friendly creature has become the face of our brand, embodying our values of community, adaptability, and helpfulness.
The Lightbulb Moment
Our journey to finding the perfect mascot began during a company offsite in Dubai. As we brainstormed ways to give our branding more character, we came up with the idea to combine the trustworthy image of a scout with the lovable charm of a capybara. It was an unconventional idea that quickly captured our imagination.
Why a Capybara?
Capybaras, known for their relaxed demeanor and sociable nature, aligned perfectly with our vision for Blockscout. These gentle giants are famous for their ability to get along with various animals, which is the right type of vibe for us as we are pretty much connected to every project, dapp, layer, and everything in between.
Key capybara traits that resonated with our brand values:
- Community-builders (they hang out in groups called "huddles")
- Adaptable to various environments (not every rodent is semi-aquatic, you know)
- Calm and helpful under pressure (they warn their buddies of danger with high-pitched barks)
These characteristics mirror our goals of building a supportive blockchain community, adapting to the rapidly changing environment, and providing a steady guide through the complexities of block exploration.
But really, these gentle giants are just incredibly meme-able. Who could resist the fluff?
The Scout Connection
We wanted our mascot to embody the values of honesty, helpfulness, and respect – all traits associated with scouts.
Just as scouts earn merit badges for learning new skills, we envisioned our capybara mascot guiding users through the blockchain landscape, helping them earn their own digital badges along the way.
The Design Journey
Our initial concept explored a more realistic style, but we soon realized that a cartoon approach would better capture the playful spirit we wanted to convey.
After several iterations, we settled on an illustrated cartoon style that perfectly blended the capybara's natural charm with the scout aesthetic.
Capy's First Day Out
Our capybara mascot made its grand debut at the ETHGlobal Brussels 2024 Hackathon, featured prominently on our swag items. We showcased the versatility of our capybara with different outfits and situations for various achievements and contexts.
For this event, we had three different Capy designs on stickers and swag:
- Friend Scout: Our social butterfly, in "dab" pose
- Hacker Scout: the hooded codebreaker
- Profi Scout: The trusted guide that knows the way
Badge of Honour
Today, our capybara mascot leads the way in our latest project: a badge system where users can earn NFT Scout badges by completing some of our recent campaigns.
From the "Fuel Up Hero" badge for using SmolRefuel to the “Swapscout Pioneer” badge for all those that swapped it up with Swapscout, and the "Dapp Explorer" badge for rating favorite DApps, each achievement is a step towards becoming a true blockchain scout.
If you participated in our recent campaigns, check if you eligible for an NFT Badge here:
Mint your Blockscout Fren NFT Badge
We launched a special edition NFT badge on Zora to give all of our Blockscout supporters a way to own their very own furry friend.
For our secret and not-so-secret admirers ❤️🔥, you can mint your Blockscout Fren NFT here:
The Future is Fluffy
As we look ahead to the ETHGlobal Bangkok Hackathon 2024, we're taking our capybara mascot to new heights – literally!
Attendees will have the chance to take photos with a huge 170CM statue of our capybara, decked out in full Blockscout gear...make sure to drop by the booth (and learn about our $20K prize pool while you're at it).
Hi, My Name Is...
While our capybara mascot has quickly become an important part of Blockscout, there's one thing missing – a name!
We believe our community should play a part in this important decision. So, we're turning to you, our users and supporters, to help name our fluffy friend.
Stay tuned for details on how you can participate in naming our capybara and become a part of Blockscout history!
