SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ecosapiens, a platform that offers tools for people to make a positive impact on the planet, has launched its first season of carbon offsetting digital collectibles, starting with its inaugural collectible, called a Chrysalis. The limited-series, free-to-mint Chrysalises were awarded to Ecosapiens’ 350 community members that completed the most planet-friendly tasks, and will act as a pass that enables those users to mint its namesake alpha collection – the world’s first carbon-backed collectibles, which effectively cancel out the average American’s carbon footprint for an entire year.
The Ecosapiens alpha collection will be launched on March 1 and will consist of 350 unique assets, each representing the ability to offset 16 tons of carbon emissions. Through the platform’s novel Impact-to-Earn model, owners can ‘evolve’ their Ecosapiens every week for eight consecutive weeks after the initial mint by purchasing upgrades. For $100 worth of ETH, owners can offset an additional two tons of carbon and evolve their Ecosapiens to become more artistically intricate and rare. A fully leveled-up Level 7 Ecosapien offsets a whopping 28 tons of carbon, and holders will automatically gain access to the Greenlist for the beta test and all future drops, be eligible for automatic airdrops, receive exclusive invites to events like conferences and dinner with the founders, and be able to join a gated chat in the Discord with other Level 7 holders.
Ecosapiens aims to make sustainable practices easier to access and to facilitate meaningful environmental impact. Ecosapiens was co-founded by mixed media sculpture artist Garret Kane and climate tech expert Nihar Neelakanti, who left his job at the prestigious venture capital firm Menlo Ventures to build this passion project.
“This project was fueled by my experience growing up on the west coast, where I watched wildfires grow larger and more frequent over the years,” said Nihar Neelakanti, Co-Founder and CEO of Ecosapiens. “Honestly, it was terrifying – and my peers and I felt like there wasn’t anything we could individually do about it. Through Ecosapiens, I hope to provide a truly productive outlet for the climate anxiety so many of us are feeling.”
Ecosapiens are more than a stagnant piece of digital art, their bodies subtly breathe, and the plants, minerals, and fungi that grow inside and among them oscillate, serving as a tribute to the significance of breath and the preservation of our atmosphere. Through their unique design and symbolism, Ecosapiens serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting and preserving the natural world for future generations.
“We’ve designed every one-of-one Ecosapien to evolve with each boost in carbon captured, becoming more intricate and beautiful each time,” said Garret Kane, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Ecosapiens. “Our team sees art as a tool for activism. Ecosapiens uses the reward of unique art collectibles and NFT rarity as a motivation for getting involved in caring for and healing the planet.”
The alpha collection sources its carbon credits from KOKO Kenya Tropical Forest Protection. KOKO is working to replace the use of charcoal, a major contributor to deforestation, with sustainable bioethanol cooking fuel through a network of self-service fuel stations. By providing an alternative to charcoal stoves, KOKO's affordable technology promotes the use of clean energy and efficient appliances, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases and protecting forests from being cleared. This accessible option has already benefited more than 2.5 million Kenyans, including a significant portion of households in Nairobi.
Ecoportal is the central hub for minting, upgrading and viewing carbon balance and credits, and exploring the climate projects that users support by owning an Ecosapien. Check out ecosapiens.xyz to learn more or to mint your own Ecosapien today.
About Ecosapiens
Ecosapiens is a Web3 platform that provides ways for individual people to make a positive impact on the planet, beginning with a perpetual carbon capture digital collectible series, through which reforestation projects are funded. The platform’s namesake collection, Ecosapiens, represents a new iteration of the human species that is more connected to and thoughtful about its impact on the planet. Key Ecosapiens investors include Boost Ventures, Slow Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Alumni Ventures and Charles River Ventures. Follow Ecosapiens on Twitter and Instagram and join us on Discord.
