Kusama is a blockchain network that serves as a canary network for Polkadot, an earlier release of the code that is available first and holds real economic value [1]. The network’s visual identity centers on a black canary symbol, a reference to its role as an experimental proving ground for new technology before deployment on Polkadot [2].
Design and History
The Kusama logo features a black canary, a motif that directly reflects the network’s function as a “canary network” for Polkadot [2]. The canary symbol is described in official community proposals as “the black canary” and is referred to as the Kusama logo [2]. The network’s official website hosts the logo as an SVG asset at kusama-logo.svg [3].
The Kusama brand was designed by Iggy Albero, a designer from the Web3 Foundation who also created Polkadot’s logo and many other brand assets [4]. Albero is credited as “the designer behind the current Polkadot and Kusama’s brand” in a council motion proposing a multisig curator for a Polkadot brand bounty [4].
In 2025, a Wish For Change referendum was proposed to explore evolving the Kusama brand, with the explicit goal of “not killing the canary” [5]. The proposal sought a signal from token holders about the viability of evolving the brand and clarifying licensing and trademarks, noting that the Web3 Foundation holds the Kusama trademark [5]. The referendum was executed, and the proposal invited designers and brand strategists to submit proposals for the design evolution of Kusama [5].
Meaning and Symbolism
The canary in the Kusama logo is a direct reference to the historical practice of using canaries in coal mines to detect dangerous gases. If the bird became ill or died, it signaled miners to evacuate [6]. This symbolism aligns with Kusama’s role as a canary network for Polkadot, where new features and runtime upgrades are tested in a real economic environment before deployment on the more conservative Polkadot network [1].
The network’s identity is closely tied to its experimental nature. Kusama is described as “an early, unaudited, and unrefined release of Polkadot” and is owned by those who hold KSM tokens, with no central kill switch [1]. The canary symbol has been used in community marketing initiatives, including a papercraft model of the “black canary” logo and an NFT inspired by the logo [2].
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