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- The Solana blockchain network has deleted a widely criticized advertisement from its X account after receiving strong pushback with over 1.2 million views.
- Nick O’Neill and Anneri van der Merwe responded to the post, calling it cringe and questioning why Solana decided to delete the video.
The Solana Foundation recently faced significant backlash after releasing an advertisement deemed insensitive to gender identity issues, leading to its removal from social media platforms.
The two-and-a-half-minute video, intended to promote the upcoming Solana Accelerate conference, depicted a character named “America” in a therapy session.
Expressing desires to innovate in technology and cryptocurrency, “America” was advised by the therapist to focus on “coming up with a new gender” and “pronouns.” This portrayal was widely criticized for trivializing gender identity issues. The ad culminated with “America” declaring a wish to “invent technologies, not genders,” a statement perceived as dismissive of progressive values.
ICYMI pic.twitter.com/uuHtLFx0yW
— Lawyered (@BitGrateful) March 18, 2025
Before its deletion, the advertisement amassed over 1.2 million views, 1,300 comments, and 1,400 reposts and sparked extensive criticism on social media platforms. Users labeled the content as “tone deaf,” “offensive,” and “cringe,” highlighting its insensitivity towards gender identity discussions.
Industry Response
The Solana advertisement sparked strong reactions from prominent figures within the cryptocurrency community, with many expressing disapproval over its messaging.
Adam Cochran, a partner at Cinneamhain Ventures, suggested that Solana’s decision to remove the ad was driven by business considerations rather than a genuine acknowledgment of its inappropriateness.
Anneri van der Merwe, product lead at Base, criticized the advertisement for “offensive, cringe, and pandering.” She further pointed out that while Solana had recently adopted the phrase “is for everyone,” the ad demonstrated that the network still had “a long way to go in truly embracing that ethos.”
Tyler Bench, CRO of on-chain governance platform Tally.xyz, was even more direct in his critique, stating “This might be the single most toxic piece of content I have ever consumed. It’s like the Coinbase ads if they were created by an incel who hasn’t left the basement in years.”
The backlash against the ad stands in stark contrast to the Solana Foundation’s previously stated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). At a recent conference in Singapore, the foundation’s code of conduct explicitly prohibited discrimination based on gender and gender identity, emphasizing respect and inclusivity.
The controversy surrounding Solana’s ad also unfolds against a broader political backdrop. On January 20, President Donald Trump issued an executive order revoking several of his predecessor’s directives, including Executive Order 13988, a key policy signed by former President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021.
This executive order, titled “Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation,” extended federal protections against discrimination to cover gender identity and sexual orientation. Its revocation ignited debates on civil rights, workplace protections, and the broader cultural divide on gender-related policies
Meanwhile, Solana is trading at $125, reflecting a 2.97% decline in the past 24 hours, while its trading volume has climbed 8.61% to $2.85 billion.
Notably, Solana shared an update on its official page, highlighting key network milestones since its inception on March 16, 2020, including over 408 billion transactions, more than 1,300 validators, and a total trading volume surpassing $987 billion.
