The Solana Foundation has encountered severe criticism following the release of a controversial promotional video entitled “America is Back—Time to Accelerate”, which provoked outrage among the crypto community.
On March 17, the organization’s official X account shared the now-removed advertisement that portrayed the United States as a man in therapy who struggles to concentrate on technological advancements—including cryptocurrency and space exploration—because of societal debates on pronouns and gender identity.
The ad quickly attracted condemnation for its politically charged content and divisive themes. Many voices within the crypto sector criticized it for compromising the industry’s values of neutrality and inclusiveness.
In response to the backlash, the Solana Foundation took down the video after it had been live for nine hours, though not before it garnered over a million views.
‘Very few people’
In light of the controversy, Matt Sorg, Vice President of Technology at the Solana Foundation, stated on March 18 that only a select few individuals within the Solana network were directly involved in creating the ad.
Sorg’s comments were made in response to Adam Cochran, a partner at Cinneamhain Ventures, who questioned how the advertisement proceeded through multiple approval stages without any objections.
Cochran argued that if only a limited number of people were engaged, someone ought to have raised concerns during the brainstorming, scriptwriting, filming, or post-production phases.
Nevertheless, Sorg defended the foundation, highlighting that most of the production work was contracted out to external teams. He also reiterated that the video did not accurately reflect the wider sentiments of the Solana ecosystem.
He explained:
“Even though it was posted on the primary channel, it doesn’t mean it conveys the ecosystem’s excitement about the message.”
In a different post on X, Sorg addressed the larger philosophical issues tied to the controversy. He argued that creativity and self-expression should not be confined to rigid structures, asserting:
“The wonder of humanity lies in its freedom from natural randomness or binary robotic output. We possess creativity and can overcome disorder. Exploring our identities and possibilities is not anti-innovation.”
However, he expressed dissatisfaction with being associated with the ad’s controversial messaging.
Community slams Solana
In spite of this defense, notable figures within the crypto community condemned the campaign.
They suggested that the ad reignited discussions about political messaging in the cryptocurrency sector, with critics asserting it represented a drift towards partisan narratives.
Caitlin Cook, a prominent community member, described the ad as “embarrassing and cringe,” arguing that the foundation should prioritize inspiration and narrative-building over creating division.
Similarly, Andrew Thurman with the Jito Foundation pointed out the need for blockchain organizations to maintain political neutrality.
David McIntyre, COO of Doublezero and former member of the Solana Foundation, criticized the video as “horrendous,” asserting that celebrating America did not necessitate delving into cultural conflicts and urged the foundation to adopt a more positive messaging approach regarding Solana’s contributions.
Cochran voiced one of the most pointed critiques, underscoring the significant role of transgender developers in open-source cryptography, security, and intelligence software. He admonished the ad’s premise, asserting that the industry has historically thrived on a culture of meritocracy that prioritizes contributions over personal identity.
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