Mad Banana Monday: Snout Strong #CTO #Madness

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MadBananaUnion 🍌
@MadBananaUnionDec 3, 2025

The Spaces brought together the Mad Banana Union and Snout Bears to share concrete updates, ethos, and actionable opportunities. Host Harley relaunched Banano Miners with a $5 USDC-on-Polygon incentive and pledged to mint five Snout Zoo “skunks” for the treasury if fewer than five new miners joined. Dean Wilson (West Coast) detailed Snout Bears’ turnaround from a 2024 rug to a transparent, 501(c)(3)-backed foundation led by Bo (nonverbal, President), Astro (VP), Dilly Bird (Secretary), and Medigang (security). Their mission centers on autism education, acceptance, and awareness, with donations to ARI, Kaden & Nico, and NB4T surpassing roughly $20K, and trademarks for Snout Zoo and Snout Bears secured. Monthly Snout Zoo mints are limited (444 supply, $5 USDC on Polygon, 95–100% of proceeds to autism causes; secondary sales share 5–10%), with a delivered Year-1 calendar and a Year-5 puzzle planned for holders of every animal. Collaborations include Ultra Kingdoms’ in-game Snout Zoo, Vegas 44 merch and calendars, ODP’s Cyberate Coffee, Cryp Social Club wine, and artist partnerships (e.g., Harley’s sea otters, Neglected Labs’ pandas). The session emphasized business discipline, transparency, and “show up and share” culture over hype, while inviting the community to the skunks mint and broader web2/web3 outreach.

Mad Banana Monday x Snout Bears: Full Session Notes

Host, Guests, and Key Participants

  • Host: Harley (Mad Banana Union). Led the session, coordinated cross-community support, and announced Banano miners incentives and upcoming guests.
  • Primary guest: Dean Wilson (“West Coast”; commonly called West). Compliance Officer for Snout Bears Inc; co-founder/driver of the community take-over (CTO) of Snout Bears; 30+ years in hospitality, winery and spirits entrepreneur.
  • Snout Bears leadership:
    • Bo (“Boart”): President, 24, nonverbal and on the autism spectrum; creative/design lead for Snout Zoo; drives transparent operations (Discord announcements, treasury updates).
    • Astro: Vice President; stepped up extensively in public-facing spaces.
    • Dilly Bird (Shawna): Secretary/Administration; conceptual artist (e.g., Elephants) and ops support.
    • Medigang: Sergeant-at-Arms (security).
    • Angela: Bo’s mother (appears via Snout Zoo account); family involvement is visible and supportive.
    • Ambassadors: Executive, I Am Immortal, Zolo (on the spectrum), and other long-time supporters.
  • Collaborators/Allies:
    • Code Compiler and Ultra Kingdoms team (AAA game launching across Steam/PlayStation/Xbox; building the in-game Snout Zoo).
    • Neglected Labs (Kid X, Astro; tight-knit cross-community support and “mall/info center” presence inside Ultra Kingdoms).
    • Vegas44 (production, merch, calendar printing, US coffee distribution partner for ODP).
    • ODP (Cyberate Coffee; Netherlands): coffee collaboration; partnered with Vegas44 in the US.
    • Crypsocial Club (“Killer”): IRL wine line collaboration and distribution enablement under licensed structure.
  • Community contributors & commentators:
    • CryptoFam (Cryptofam Radio): Co-host; invited West to On Chain Chats with Mountain Dew.
    • NARF (Austria): Artist; engaged with Ultra Kingdoms and open to 2026 Snout Zoo collaboration.
    • Graham: OG community voice; emphasized business discipline and a practical way to support mints while maintaining liquidity (mint-five/sell-five/roll-forward approach).
    • Jess: Builders Manifesto (Base); charity activations (Nigeria orphanages, US pet rescues).
    • Tricky Buddha (DeFi Space Donkeys): Art Basel updates and support; now a Banana holder.

Opening and Community Offer (Mad Banana Union)

  • Banano Miners relaunch in Mad Banana Union Discord. Offer (sponsored by Monkey Mike):
    • Anyone who signs up during the space to mine BANANO receives $5 USDC on Polygon to mint a Snout Zoo “Skunk.”
    • If fewer than five sign up to mine, Harley will mint five Skunks for the Treasury to give to new miners.
  • Mining is PC-friendly (even an older machine works). New miners receive a Banana NFT from Blockchain and, for the first five, a Skunk (funded and minted by Harley).

Snout Bears: Origin, Mission, and Governance

  • Origin and CTO:
    • Snout Bears launched as a free mint on Polygon in Feb 2024 (≈8,000 supply). Mint concentrated in ~242 whale wallets, then original founder “Daniel” (purportedly Brazil-based) rugged.
    • Community Take-Over (CTO) in July 2024: contract transferred, access locked, West and team reorganized under the ethos of NFT Unity.
  • Mission: Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Education.
    • Practical sequence: education → acceptance → broader awareness.
    • Aimed to normalize discussion and support for autism rather than treating it as taboo.
  • Community & culture:
    • Transparent, non-toxic, service-first. Strong stance against rugs and hype-driven extraction.
    • “Show up and share” over “shill”; be kind, inclusive, and evidence-driven (DYOR emphasized).
    • Weekly Snout Safe Space on Wednesdays (2 PM PST / 5 PM EST) continues.

Legal and Transparency Milestones

  • 501(c)(3): Achieved (via LegalZoom) — formal nonprofit status “officially bought and paid for” during the current cycle.
  • Incorporation & compliance: Snout Bears Inc formed as the operating umbrella (West is Compliance Officer).
  • Trademarks: “Snout Zoo” and “Snout Bear” (name + logo) filed and paid (≈$5,200 total fees reported).
  • Wallet transparency: All movements (donations, operational disbursements) disclosed in Discord announcements. Open invitation to “chase wallets” — nothing to hide.

Fundraising and Donations

  • From $0 (July 2024) to ≈$20,000 donated across “core three” and additional foundations.
  • Core organizations supported:
    • Autism Research Institute (ARI) — selected after early due diligence by West.
    • Kaden & Nico — personal tie-in via team; cumulative support in the low-thousands range.
    • NB4T (New Beginnings for Adults with Autism; New Jersey) — teaches life skills for adults; Bo’s selection.
  • Policy on proceeds:
    • 95–100% of NFT mint revenue goes to autism-related causes (core three + additional programs).
    • Team volunteers in the NFT program are not paid from mints; operational expenses and salaries (e.g., Bo’s ongoing full-time commitment) are on the incorporated side.

Snout Zoo: Product Strategy, Mints, and Delivery

  • Snout Zoo concept: 12 months of animals per year with limited supply; focus on mission over speculation.
  • Mint sizing and cadence:
    • Original concept (111 → 1,212) pivoted mid-year due to market conditions to steady, small editions of 444 per month.
    • Price: $5 USDC on Polygon (switch from volatile MATIC to stable USDC for predictability).
  • Community momentum and mints:
    • Sea Otters (Sept; artist: Harley/Mad Banana Union) — kick-started faster sell-through (8 days).
    • Neglected Labs mints (e.g., Pandas) — catalyzed near-instant sellouts via Ultra Kingdoms/Cake Fam network.
    • Elephants — concept by Dilly Bird, art executed by Bo; minted out rapidly (~36 hours).
    • Honey Badgers — strong engagement (“don’t care” energy resonated).
    • December: Skunks — mint at $5 USDC (Polygon), 444 supply; anticipated to move quickly.
  • Mint mechanics:
    • Payment in USDC on the Polygon network (ERC-20 stablecoin). Rationale: reduce price friction from token volatility and simplify accounting.
  • Secondary market stance:
    • No sell-shaming; encourage responsible listing (avoid undercutting floor). Team cited a double-digit POL floor at one point and noted active WETH offers; emphasis is on mission, not floor price.
  • Delivery commitments:
    • Year 1 calendars: Delivered (produced with Vegas44; organized by Astro). Eligibility: holders of OG Snout Bear + Snout Penguin plus one of each monthly zoo animal to date; claim via Discord.
    • Year 5 promise: 60-animal puzzle (plus OGs). If you own the full set (all zoo animals + OGs), you’ll receive the puzzle free; otherwise available for sale.

Ecosystem Partnerships and IRL Builds

  • Ultra Kingdoms (AAA game)
    • Deep integration: a dedicated Snout Zoo in-game zone is being built by the Ultra Kingdoms team (Code Compiler et al.); also a “mall” info center presence. This came organically from months of collaboration and shared values; announced only after confirmed.
    • Community ties: Neglected Labs, Cake Fam, and allied communities reliably mobilize around Snout mints.
  • Vegas IRL footprint:
    • West’s trip to Vegas (October) for Code Compiler’s birthday; 45–50+ attendees, including international supporters. Personalized wine labels created and gifted.
    • Vegas44 is a core collaborator on merch, calendars, and US coffee distribution.
  • Coffee collaboration:
    • ODP (Netherlands) x Cyberate Coffee: Snout-branded coffee; Vegas44 distributing in the US.
  • Crypsocial Club (Killer):
    • Joint wine offering produced under West’s winery licensing. Discussion of broader distribution mechanics and business discipline; more product “alpha” forthcoming.
  • Future IRL impact: Sensory Splash Park (NB4T, New Jersey)
    • Led by Nick (Hope Network; US Army combat engineer, heavy equipment operator).
    • Concept: a safe, accessible splash park for children on the spectrum (open for all), estimated ≈$250k build cost.
    • Exploring fundraising strategy (potential dedicated mint or partnership model).

Operations, Compliance, and Business Discipline

  • West outlined a business-first approach for Web3 founders:
    • Build a mission-driven business plan (who/what/why/where/how), then formalize SOPs (standard operating procedures), then operate with P&L clarity.
    • Treat X/Twitter as a communications hub; don’t rely on spaces to “sell your fortune.” Build real products and IRL bridges.
    • Remove emotion from trading; avoid rinse-and-repeat hype cycles (ordinals/monad/chain-hopping, etc.).
    • Encourage founders to learn from teams with proven transparent ops and IRL execution.

Culture, Safety, and Mental Health

  • Strong stance against toxic spaces, empty hype, and extractive behavior.
  • “Show up and share” (vs. “shill”): bring value, context, and truth; community comes first.
  • Mental health matters: take breaks as needed. Embrace differences. “It’s okay to be different.”

Community Growth and Metrics (as cited)

  • From ~242 holders at free mint to ~440 at takeover; West reports a 3–4x increase in holder base since the CTO (without overfixation on floor). Emphasis on organic growth, mission retention, and wallet diversification.

Immediate Actions and How to Participate

  • Mint the December Snout Zoo “Skunks”:
    • Chain: Polygon
    • Price: $5 USDC (Polygon; ERC-20). Acquire USDC on Polygon (not USDC.e), connect wallet to the mint site when live.
    • Supply: 444
    • Proceeds: 95–100% to autism foundations (ARI, Kaden & Nico, NB4T) and allied missions.
  • Claim the Year 1 Calendar (if eligible):
    • Hold OG Snout Bear + Snout Penguin and one of each zoo animal to date; drop wallet in the dedicated Discord channel.
  • Join Banano Mining:
    • Mad Banana Union miners are active; sign up in Discord to receive setup help. New miners during the space: $5 USDC to mint a Skunk (sponsored by Monkey Mike); if <5 sign-ups, Harley will mint 5 Skunks for Treasury to reward miners.
  • Attend weekly Snout space:
    • Snout Safe Space: Wednesdays 2 PM PST / 5 PM EST.
  • Watch for broader media:
    • CryptoFam invited West to On Chain Chats with Mountain Dew (likely next week given Art Basel timing).

Upcoming (Mad Banana Union)

  • Next Mad Banana Monday guest: Gearhead Coin’s “Rusty Rigs” NFT (Mint date Dec 9). They’ll present Dec 8 to unpack the launch.

Key Takeaways

  • Snout Bears have formalized their charitable structure (501(c)(3)), protected their brand (trademarks), and operationalized transparency (Discord-first disclosures).
  • The Snout Zoo is a monthly, small-supply, low-cost mint designed to fund autism awareness, acceptance, and education — not speculation.
  • Integration into Ultra Kingdoms gives Snout Bears a credible gaming footprint without overpromising; announcements follow execution.
  • IRL collaborations (wine, vodka, coffee, merch) reinforce that Web3 can drive tangible outcomes when grounded in business discipline.
  • Culture matters: kindness, patience, consistency, and transparency are Snout Bears’ differentiators — and the basis for durable cross-community trust.