KanadeCoin (KNDC), also known as 奏コイン, is a Japanese Ethereum-based ERC-20 token launched on April 7, 2018, designed to support creators of apps, websites, and other services by offering a token economy option through its SDK.[1] The project’s name derives from the Japanese word “奏でる” (kanaderu), meaning “to play” or “to perform,” reflecting its focus on creative work.[2]
Design and History
KanadeCoin’s visual identity was determined through a community logo competition held in spring 2018. The contest ran from April 18 to May 8, 2018, with voting from May 9 to May 17, and results announced on May 18.[3] The competition required entries to fit within a perfect circle at 512px resolution, with the winning designer required to provide a 2048px transparent-background PNG and the original file.[3] The first-place winner received 10 million KNDC, with rewards of 3 million, 1 million, and 500,000 KNDC for second, third, and fourth through tenth places respectively.[3]
Before the competition concluded, KanadeCoin used a temporary logo that explicitly noted “ロゴコンペ開催予定” (logo competition scheduled).[2] The winning design, created by a community member using the handle “kuroneko,” was selected as the official logo.[4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The winning logo stylizes the letter “K” from KanadeCoin.[2] According to the designer’s statement, the mark was conceived as “tying threads together, connecting people’s feelings,” using the traditional Japanese crafts of temari (hand balls) and mizuhiki (decorative cords) as motifs to express craftsmanship and creation.[4]
Typography and Design
The competition’s design constraints required the logo to fit within a perfect circle, establishing the circular emblem format as a core element of the identity.[3] The official roadmap lists the logo as finalized in mid-May 2018, coinciding with the start of SDK development.[1] The designer’s statement describes the mark as connecting people through the imagery of threads, reflecting the project’s goal of supporting creators and building community connections.[4]
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