The Solana Foundation is facing backlash after releasing a promotional video that has been criticized for injecting political content into the crypto space. Solana Labs co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko has publicly apologized and pledged to refocus on the project's core mission.
Yakovenko apologizes and corrects course
On March 19, Yakovenko posted on social media expressing his "shame" for downplaying the impact of the ad, calling it "cruel and demeaning to a minority." He also expressed gratitude to members of the Solana ecosystem, including developers and artists, for quickly criticizing the ad shortly after it was released.
Yakovenko emphasized that the Solana Foundation will focus on decentralization and open-source software development, rather than engaging in contentious cultural debates.
Controversial Ad and Community Response
The promotional video, titled “America is Back — It’s Time to Accelerate,” which was released on March 17, quickly gained attention. The ad depicts America as a man in therapy, struggling to focus on technological advancements due to being distracted by discussions about pronouns and gender identity.
The ad immediately drew criticism for bringing politics into the cryptocurrency space. Andrew Thurman of the Jito Foundation, the largest project development organization on Solana by total value locked (TVL), spoke out, emphasizing that blockchain projects should remain neutral.
In response to the backlash, the Solana Foundation removed the video less than nine hours after it was posted, even though it had already been viewed more than a million times.
Solana Foundation’s explanation
After the video was removed, Solana Foundation VP of Technology Matt Sorg clarified that only a small group of individuals were involved in the production of the ad. He was responding to questions from Cinneamhain Ventures partner Adam Cochran about how the ad was able to pass through multiple approval stages without facing any pushback.
Cochran also noted that transgender developers have made significant contributions to open source security and cryptography, and said the ad failed to acknowledge their history of contributions.
Sorg explained that the production of the ad was largely outsourced to outside groups, and asserted that the content did not represent the views of the Solana community.
The Impact on Solana and What to Do Next
The incident raises questions about the Solana Foundation’s content moderation process and its ability to maintain neutrality in the blockchain industry. However, with an apology from its co-founder and a commitment to focus on core technology goals, the Solana Foundation is working to repair the damage and rebuild trust with the community.
