Solana Foundation yanked a tone-deaf advertisement from its official X account Sunday after it sparked outrage across the crypto community. The video, titled “America is Back—Time to Accelerate,” racked up 1.2 million views in just nine hours before being deleted.
The controversial ad depicted America as a man in therapy, struggling with technological innovation while being distracted by societal debates. It crossed a line when the therapist suggested focusing on “new gender” over innovation, with the man responding that he wanted to “invent technologies, not genders.” Yikes.
Creating new genders won’t build the future—America needs to invent technologies, not identities.
Critics didn’t hold back. Industry leaders like Adam Cochran questioned who approved such divisive content, while David McIntyre bluntly called the video “horrendous.” Caitlin Cook summed up many reactions by labeling it “embarrassing and cringe.”
The backlash was swift and severe. Over 1,300 comments and 1,400 reposts later, the damage was done. The ad, initially meant to promote the Solana Accelerate conference, instead became a lightning rod for criticism.
Solana’s team scrambled to distance themselves from the mess. Matt Sorg clarified there was limited internal involvement in the production, while Dan Elbert tweeted “Solana is for everyone.” Too little, too late?
Meanwhile, SOL’s price hit a yearly low of $118 on March 18. Bad timing for Solana, which is celebrating its 5th anniversary and preparing for its Firedancer upgrade to boost transaction speeds.
The fiasco reignited debates about political messaging in crypto. Many urged blockchain organizations to maintain neutrality and focus on technology rather than wading into cultural issues. Nicolas Pennie criticized “virtue signaling” regardless of ideology.
The timing of the ad was particularly problematic as it coincided with President Trump’s recent actions on gender that had already heightened tensions around these issues.
The controversy highlights a simple truth: marketing that alienates your audience isn’t clever—it’s just bad business. For a blockchain trying to rebuild its reputation after the FTX collapse, this self-inflicted wound couldn’t have come at a worse time. Critics pointed out how the ad undermined the industry’s long-standing values of neutrality and inclusivity.
