TLDR
- In response to criticism, Solana has removed an ad that stirred controversy due to its gender identity messaging.
- The advertisement portrayed America as choosing to focus on creating 'technologies, not genders,' seemingly taking a jab at progressive cultural values.
- Industry insiders in crypto criticized the ad for its divisive and inflammatory nature, prompting widespread disapproval.
- The messaging in question seemed to stand in stark contrast to Solana's previous affirmations of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles.
- With over 1.2 million views before its removal, some speculated the ad was a calculated move to generate controversy, known as 'rage bait' marketing.
Following intense criticism, Solana removed an ad from its social media platforms. The ad had been public for nine hours, generating heated discussions around gender identity themes.
The ad, posted on March 17, included the tagline 'America is back. Time to Accelerate,' featuring a character personified as 'America' in a therapy session, where the counselor advised on focusing on new gender creation rather than tech innovation.
In the narrative, the protagonist eventually decides to 'build onchain and reclaim a place as an innovation leader,' yearning to create 'technologies, not genders,' with an accompaniment of patriotic music in the background.
Having amassed over 1.2 million views, the video sparked significant engagement with over 1,300 comments and 1,400 shares on X (formerly Twitter), predominantly critical.
Took them 9 hours to delete it.
Key figures across the Solana landscape abruptly erased their supportive tweets about the ad and began sharing critiques of its negative reception.
Initially backing the campaign, they cheered and supported its release.
They rolled it back because it hurt… pic.twitter.com/kPMERDpTcn
— Adam Cochran (adamscochran.eth) (@adamscochran) March 18, 2025
Crypto industry executives voiced strong objections, like Sean O’Connor from Blocknative, labeling it 'tone deaf' due to the unfortunate timing amidst transgender policy rollbacks.
hey @solana – for real?
At a time when policies are erasing transgender rights and passport changes are in effect, you choose to release this?
this is so fucking tone deaf https://t.co/p2hF5jIb9c
— sean o’connor gas network ⛽ (@aseoconnor) March 17, 2025
David McIntyre from DoubleZero branded the ad as 'appalling,' questioning Solana's failure to maintain a positive outlook instead of dismissing serious societal issues.
The uproar comes close on the heels of President Trump's White House comeback, marked by eradicating orders preventing discrimination on gender and enacting recognition of only two sexes on official documents.
Nicolas Pennie from Helius critiqued 'virtue signaling' as consistently unappealing no matter the political stance, hinting at perceived political targeting in the ad.
Early supporters soon revised their stance, with Tushar Jain from Multicoin Capital retracting his initial praise for the ad after reflection.
From DEI to Controversy
Observers argued the ad contradicted Solana's earlier diversity and inclusion commitments, highlighted at a recent foundation event in Singapore dedicated to such values.
The event's code of conduct firmly opposed verbal or physical intimidation related to gender and other identifiers, underscoring the foundation's diversity mission.
Tyler Bench from Tally.xyz lambasted the ad as possibly the 'most toxic' content he'd seen, comparing it unfavorably even to notorious Coinbase ads.
Anneri van der Merwe of Base criticized the ad for clashing with crypto's inclusive ethos, stressing the sector still has progress to make toward inclusivity.
This new Solana promotion misses the mark so much.
Offensive, cringe, and pandering.
Base champions its universal inclusivity, yet Solana simultaneously adopted the 'for everyone' slogan, exposing gaps in fully living that principle. https://t.co/cz5UVTsIMK
— aneri.base.eth (@0xAneri) March 17, 2025
Solana's co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko appeared to distance himself from the campaign, suggesting a preference for a less controversial previous ad.
Adam Cochran implied the ad's retraction was profit-driven instead of stemming from ethical reconsideration.
Some market watchers suspected the divisive ad was intentional 'rage bait' for visibility but warned of alienating the broader crypto audience.
The Solana Foundation has not formally commented on the ad's removal, remaining silent amidst numerous media inquiries.
The controversy adds to Solana's existing hurdles, including its native token hitting a yearly low as engagement wanes on the Pump.Fun meme coin platform.
The situation emphasizes ongoing friction regarding political content in crypto, which many perceive as contrary to its core principles of neutrality and inclusiveness.
