TLDR
- Solana deleted a controversial ad after backlash over political messaging around gender identity issues
- The ad depicted “America” in therapy being told to focus on pronouns instead of innovation
- The character in the ad says he wants to “invent technologies, not genders,” which many viewed as anti-trans
- The Solana Foundation previously included gender identity protections in its code of conduct
- The backlash included criticism from within the crypto industry, including people who initially supported the ad
Solana, the blockchain network, has deleted a controversial advertisement from its X social media account following intense criticism over its messaging about gender identity. The ad, which was posted on March 17 with the caption “America is back. Time to Accelerate,” received over 1.2 million views before being removed.
The advertisement showed a man representing “America” in a therapy session. In the ad, the character expressed desires to think about innovation and cryptocurrency. The therapist in the scene responded by suggesting he should do “something more productive, like coming up with a new gender” and told him to “focus on pronouns.”
As the ad continued, the man becomes frustrated and launches into a speech with patriotic music playing in the background.
During his monologue, he declares he wants to “build onchain and reclaim my place as the beacon of innovation” and states he wants “to invent technologies, not genders.”
Tone deaf and cringe
Many viewers interpreted this as making light of transgender issues. The ad received over 1,300 comments and 1,400 reposts, with most criticizing its approach to gender identity. Critics called the advertisement “tone deaf” and “cringe” for its handling of what many consider a serious political issue.
The deleted Solana ad: pic.twitter.com/mmw1VtX1Wm
— Danny Nelson (@realDannyNelson) March 18, 2025
Sean O’Connor, operating chief at Web3 infrastructure firm Blocknative, questioned the timing of the ad. He pointed out that it came at a time when transgender people are facing government restrictions. President Donald Trump recently revoked executive orders aimed at preventing discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.
Trump also signed an order recognizing only two sexes and removed the option for Americans to choose “X” as a gender on passports. These actions have raised concerns among LGBTQ+ advocates about rights for transgender individuals.
The controversy highlighted an apparent shift in the Solana Foundation’s public stance. Just weeks before the U.S. election, the foundation held a conference in Singapore with a code of conduct that protected against discrimination based on “gender identity and expression.” The code described diversity, equity, and inclusion as “core values” of the organization.
David McIntyre, operating chief at DoubleZero, called the ad “horrendous.” He questioned why Solana didn’t “keep the message positive instead of dunking on people and making light of serious cultural issues.” This sentiment was echoed by many in the cryptocurrency community.
Multicoin Capital co-founder deleted his initial post praising the ad
Even some who initially supported the ad changed their position after seeing the backlash. Multicoin Capital co-founder Tushar Jain deleted his initial post praising the ad “after some reflection.” He had previously called it “bold and risky.”
In his follow-up statement, Jain suggested the ad would have been more effective if it focused on “deeper culture war issues” rather than “surface culture war issues like pronouns.” He acknowledged that the ad’s approach alienated part of the audience.
Nicolas Pennie, co-founder of Solana development platform Helius, commented that “virtue signaling will always be cringe regardless of political ideology.” This suggests that even within the Solana ecosystem, opinions on the ad were mixed.
Solana has not stated why they removed the ad
When asked for comment, the foundation did not immediately respond to media inquiries. This silence has left room for speculation about their motivations for both creating and removing the advertisement.
Adam Cochran, a partner at Cinneamhain Ventures, suggested on X that “They rolled it back because it hurt their business, not because they thought it was wrong.” This view reflects skepticism about the sincerity of Solana’s response to the criticism.
The incident occurs as the crypto industry navigates its place in U.S. politics. Until now, many cryptocurrency supporters have worked with both major political parties based on their positions on digital assets. The industry has spent money supporting candidates from both parties who favor crypto-friendly policies.
The ad controversy has raised questions about whether crypto companies can maintain this bipartisan approach. By seeming to take a side in culture war issues, Solana’s ad risked making cryptocurrency appear more partisan than many industry leaders prefer.
The ad was promoting Solana Accelerate, the foundation’s first U.S. conference. The timing and content of the advertisement may have been intended to attract attention, but ended up creating unwanted controversy instead.
For now, the ad has been removed from Solana’s social media, but the discussions it sparked continue. The incident serves as a reminder of how easily technology marketing can become entangled in broader social and political debates.
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