The Solana Foundation recently found itself in hot water after an ad aimed at promoting its Solana Accelerate conference ruffled some feathers. The ad, which made a splash on social media, caught flak for its political spin on gender identity, leading to its eventual takedown.
Picture this: a man, dubbed “America,” is having a heart-to-heart with his therapist about the future of innovation in crypto. But the therapist seems more interested in discussing gender and pronouns than blockchain breakthroughs. Cue the dramatic music as “America” passionately vows to focus on creating cutting-edge tech rather than diving into gender debates.
This controversial clip didn't sit well with many in the crypto sphere. Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko, who’s no stranger to ruffling feathers himself, distanced himself from the ad. He even reminisced about a past campaign, the “Maren ad,” as a more tasteful endeavor. Although the original post has disappeared into the digital ether, it continues to circulate thanks to eager reposts.
The backlash was swift. Industry voices, like Adam Cochran from Cinneamhain Ventures, called out the foundation for taking its sweet time—nine whole hours—to nix the post. He also highlighted how some prominent figures were quick to jump on the ad’s bandwagon before hastily backtracking.
Describing the ad as “tone-deaf,” Sean O’Connor from Blocknative pointed to recent policy shifts in the U.S. as a backdrop to the controversy. Tyler Bench of Tally.xyz likened the campaign to Coinbase’s bold moves but noted it took things up a notch, while Anneri van der Merwe from Base found it pandering and contradictory to Solana’s inclusive image.
Nicolas Pennie of Helius shared his thoughts on the pitfalls of virtue signaling in marketing, regardless of the political slant. Meanwhile, David McIntyre questioned why the campaign opted for satire over a more uplifting message.
Some folks speculate that the whole debacle was a deliberate attempt to stir the pot and grab attention. Reka from Avnu.Fi suggested the ad was more about courting controversy than showcasing creativity. Whether it was a marketing mishap or a calculated move, it sure got people talking!
