The Solana Ad Controversy: Criticism of Gender Issues and Removal Decision

Jakarta, Pintu News – The team behind the Solana blockchain network recently removed an ad posted on their X account after receiving widespread criticism for its gender identity-related political messaging. The more than two-and-a-half-minute ad was promoted in conjunction with the Solana Accelerate conference on March 17 with the tagline “America is back. Time to Accelerate.”

In the video, a man described as “American” is undergoing a therapy session. As he talks about his desire to innovate in crypto, his therapist responds with sarcasm, suggesting that he do something more “productive,” such as inventing a new gender or focusing more onpronouns.

At the end, the male character in the ad vents his emotions to patriotic music, stating that he wants to “build on-chain and bring back innovation,” and “create technology, not gender.” It is considered a satire of progressive values, especially in relation to gender identity and social policy.

Before it was removed, the ad had over 1.2 million views and received over 1,300 comments and 1,400 reposts. Most of the responses criticized how the ad handled gender issues and capitalized on a controversial political debate.

Criticism from the Crypto and Tech Community

Solana’s decision to remove the ad came after a wave of criticism from various quarters within the crypto and tech industry. Adam Cochran, partner at Cinneamhain Ventures, wrote on X that the removal of the ad was driven more by business impact than the realization that the message in the ad was wrong. He highlighted that it took nine hours for Solana to pull the ad and that many key figures in the Solana ecosystem who previously supported the ad have now deleted their posts.

Sean O’Connor, Chief Operating Officer at Web3 infrastructure company Blocknative, called the ad “incredibly insensitive.” He highlighted how the transgender community currently faces various legal challenges, including restrictions on obtaining passports, so he thinks this ad only makes the situation worse.

David McIntyre, Chief Operating Officer at DoubleZero, called Solana’s ad “appalling” and questioned why the company did not choose to deliver a positive message instead of creating divisiveness on social issues.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Pennie, co-founder of Solana’s developer platform Helius, commented that “moral signals will always feel redundant, regardless of political ideology.”

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Removal and Reflection of Early Supporters

Some individuals who initially supported the ad have also withdrawn their support. One of them was Tushar Jain, co-founder of Multicoin Capital, who had previously praised the ad as “bold and risky.” After receiving a lot of negative feedback, Jain deleted the post and stated that upon further reflection, he realized that the ad could have been structured better.

In his revised statement, Jain argued that it would be more effective if the ad highlighted deeper cultural issues, such as a critique of the oppressor-oppressed view, rather than just addressing surface issues such aspronouns. He also added that the ad should have been able to convey the message without alienating some of the audience.

Conclusion: Lessons from Controversy

This case shows how crypto companies like Solana are increasingly involved in cultural and political debates. In an increasingly connected world, any message delivered by large corporations can trigger widespread reactions, especially when it comes to sensitive social issues.

Solana now faces the challenge of restoring their image after this ad was criticized. Going forward, a more inclusive and unbiased approach to communication may be a wiser strategy in maintaining reputation and building a wider community.

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Reference

• Cointelegraph. Solana Deletes Ad Criticized for Tone-Deaf Gender Issues Accessed March 19, 2025.
• Featured Image: NewsBTC