The Solana Foundation recently faced intense criticism after releasing a controversial promotional video titled “America is Back—Time to Accelerate,” which caused an uproar in the crypto community. On March 17, Solana’s official X account shared the ad, which portrayed the United States as a man in therapy, distracted from technological progress, such as crypto and space travel, by societal debates on pronouns and gender identity. The ad was accused of being politically charged and divisive, undermining the industry’s values of neutrality and inclusivity. Despite being taken down after nine hours, it had already garnered over one million views.
In response to the controversy, Matt Sorg, Solana Foundation’s Vice President of Technology, stated on March 18 that only a few people in the Solana ecosystem were directly involved in creating the ad. His statement was in response to Adam Cochran from Cinneamhain Ventures, who questioned why the ad passed through multiple approval stages without objections, suggesting that concerns should have been raised during production.
Sorg defended the foundation, noting that most production steps were outsourced to external teams, and emphasized that the video did not represent the broader views of the Solana ecosystem. He remarked that, despite being posted on the main channel, the video did not reflect the ecosystem’s enthusiasm for the message.
In a separate X post, Sorg discussed the broader philosophical debate, arguing that creativity and human expression shouldn’t be restricted by rigid frameworks. He asserted that exploring possibilities is not anti-innovation, though he expressed disappointment at being associated with the ad’s divisive messaging.
Despite these defenses, many prominent figures in the crypto community criticized the campaign. They argued that the ad revived debates about political messaging within the crypto industry, suggesting it marked a shift toward partisan narratives. Caitlin Cook, a well-known community member, labeled the ad “embarrassing and cringe,” urging the foundation to focus on inspiring narratives rather than causing division.
Similarly, Andrew Thurman of the Jito Foundation criticized blockchain organizations for engaging in political discourse, advocating for neutrality. David McIntyre, Doublezero COO and former Solana Foundation member, described the video as “horrendous,” urging the foundation to highlight Solana’s positive impact without delving into cultural conflicts.
Adam Cochran delivered a strong critique, emphasizing the contributions of transgender developers to open-source cryptography, security, and intelligence software. He argued that the ad’s premise contradicted the meritocratic culture that values contributions over identity.
