The cryptocurrency world has been abuzz with discussions surrounding Solana, especially following the release of a promotional video for its upcoming Accelerate conference in New York. The ad, released on March 17, quickly faced backlash and was removed due to its perceived insensitivity towards gender identity issues.
Ad Criticized For Insensitivity
The commercial featured a character named “America” who, in a therapy session, shared his thoughts about “innovation.” To his surprise, the therapist suggested he explore his feelings about pronouns or the development of new genders, instead of focusing on technological advancements like cryptocurrency. The character’s response, expressing a desire to “invent technologies, not genders,” struck a chord with many viewers, but for all the wrong reasons.
Critics labeled the video as “offensive” and “tone-deaf,” with some highlighting its disrespect to transgender and gender minorities. The swift removal of the ad after only nine hours speaks volumes about the misjudgment it represented.
Took them 9 hours to delete it.
Also, all the major players in the Solana ecosystem suddenly delete their tweets promoting/supporting the ad and RT’d and liked takes about it being bad.
They approved this, supported it and celebrated it. They rolled it back because it hurt… pic.twitter.com/kPMERDpTcn
— Adam Cochran (adamscochran.eth) (@adamscochran) March 18, 2025
Corporate executives were quick to voice their disapproval. David McIntyre, former director of the Solana Foundation, argued that while some may view the ad as “justly absurd,” it ultimately failed to prioritize positive messaging over mocking significant societal issues.
Sean O’Connor from Blocknative did not mince words, critiquing the ad’s lack of sensitivity towards current societal challenges faced by the transgender community in a pointed message via X (formerly Twitter).
hey @solana – for real?
at a time when trans people are getting denied passports and being erased by the government… this is the ad you put out?
this is so fucking tone deaf https://t.co/p2hF5jIb9c
— sean o’connor | gas network
(@aseoconnor) March 17, 2025
Controversy Casts Doubt On Solana’s Values
The substantial criticism surrounding this ad raises questions about Solana’s actual adherence to its stated values. Just weeks before the ad’s release, the Solana Foundation emphasized the significance of diversity and inclusion at a conference in Singapore, establishing a code of conduct to protect individuals from harassment based on gender identity and expression.
This recent incident has sparked discussions on whether the advertisement reflects a strategic shift in Solana’s messaging or was merely an unfortunate misstep. To date, Solana has not issued an official clarification regarding the decision to pull the ad, leading critics to argue that the removal appeared reactive rather than a demonstration of genuine ethical consideration.
I deleted my initial take on the Solana ad today after some reflection.
At first I liked the ad because it struck a chord with me. I believe a whole generation of people was taught to focus on zero sum oppressor oppressed world views rather than positive sum techno…
— Tushar Jain (@TusharJain_) March 18, 2025
In light of the backlash, some initial supporters of the ad, such as Tushar Jain, have withdrawn their positive reinforcement, acknowledging that it alienated parts of the community. This incident serves as a pivotal reflection point within the cryptocurrency sector, highlighting existing tensions around political messaging and cultural representation.
Featured image from Gemini Imagen, chart from TradingView
