In a recent YOUTUBE video, Jim Watkins was asked about the symbol for 8Kun. He seemed surprised by the question and referred to "Don't Tread On Me" symbolism and Ben Franklin's adaptation of that symbolism. Here's some images and text from the reference link Watkins provided:
Images and excerpt from:
https://knifeup.com/dont-tread-on-me-what-it-means-today/
"In one of America’s earliest political cartoons, Franklin published a picture of a segmented snake to symbolize a divided America. His point was to admonish all colonial Americans to unite or die. Whatever one may say of, or think of the symbol of the “don’t tread on me” flag, there is no doubt that its actual origin is 100% pro-revolution and anti-British. It was conceived of and developed in a totally non-racial context during the revolutionary war."
To this, CodeMonkey has added his voice: