On March 17, Solana’s official Twitter account posted a promotional video titled "America is Back—Time to Accelerate," which quickly garnered over 1.2 million views.
On March 17, Solana’s official Twitter account posted a promotional video titled "America is Back—Time to Accelerate," which quickly garnered over 1.2 million views. The video featured a man in therapy who wants to focus on technological progress but is encouraged by his therapist to focus instead on things like gender identity and pronouns. The ad sparked widespread backlash from the crypto community, with many criticizing its portrayal of gender issues and its perceived political bias. Solana removed the video after just nine hours, though the damage had already been done.
In the video, the therapist suggests that the man create a “new gender” to resolve his “rational thinking syndrome.” This scene, in particular, was seen as tone-deaf and divisive, prompting a strong response from viewers. Tyler Bench, Chief Revenue Officer of Tally.xyz, called it “the single most toxic piece of content” he had ever seen. The ad was criticized for undermining the blockchain industry’s values of neutrality and inclusivity, which have long been considered essential to the crypto community.
Even after the video was deleted, the controversy continued to stir anger. Matt Sorg, Vice President of Technology at Solana Foundation, stated that only a small group was involved in the video’s creation. While he defended the artistic expression behind it, he admitted disappointment over the negative reception. Some industry figures, like Anneri van der Merwe, criticized the ad as offensive and argued that it misrepresented the crypto community's ethos of inclusivity.
Adam Cochran, an industry figure, questioned how the ad was approved without anyone raising concerns. He noted that the blockchain industry has long been defined by meritocracy and criticized the ad for not acknowledging the contributions of transgender individuals within the crypto space.
The video came on the heels of Solana’s recent involvement in the meme coin market. Solana-based platforms like Pump.fun had seen significant activity, with one meme coin achieving a $200 million market cap in just two days. However, the video’s removal didn’t stop the ongoing criticism of Solana’s marketing decisions.
Solana has previously made politically charged statements, such as a tweet posted on June 5, 2020, where it expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement. This message of inclusivity seems at odds with the controversial ad. Solana’s removal of the video marked a rare instance of a blockchain organization responding to public backlash, but it also raised questions about the role of political messaging in the crypto world.
The controversy has highlighted ongoing tensions in the crypto space about how to handle sensitive topics like gender identity without alienating users. Solana’s future marketing strategies may be under closer scrutiny, especially as it continues to push into meme coins and other projects.
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