YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — Solana deleted an advertisement that caused widespread controversy. The deleted Solana ad controversy started after the company posted a video for the Solana Accelerate conference on March 17. The Solana crypto ad sparked debate for its references to gender identity issues, leading to Solana backlash from the crypto community.
The ad featured a man, referred to as “America,” in a therapy session discussing thoughts about crypto and innovation. The therapist dismissed his ideas and suggested focusing on gender-related topics instead. As the conversation continued, the man declared his wish to “build onchain and reclaim my place as the beacon of innovation.” The video ended with a direct reference to technology versus gender debates, which fueled the Solana political controversy.
Solana deleted the video after nine hours, but it had already received over 1.2 million views, 1,300 comments, and 1,400 reposts. The removal did not stop discussions, as many criticized the ad’s political messaging.
Crypto Community Reacts to Solana Backlash
The Solana backlash continued even after the video was taken down. Some industry figures said the Solana ad controversy introduced unnecessary political debates into the crypto space.
Adam Cochran, partner at Cinneamhain Ventures, commented:
“They rolled it back because it hurt their business, not because they thought it was wrong.
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.”
Sean O’Connor, chief operating officer at Blocknative, called the Solana crypto ad “tone deaf.”
He added:
“At a time when trans people are getting denied passports and being erased by the government… this is the ad you put out?”
David McIntyre, chief operating officer at DoubleZero, questioned the Solana marketing misstep, saying:
“Why not keep the message positive instead of dunking on people and making light of serious cultural issues? Also, the idea that somehow being prevented from talking about trans people and immigrants was in some way holding blockchain innovation back makes absolutely no sense…conflating these issues is irresponsible and wrong”
Despite the Solana deleted ad, criticism remained, with many claiming the removal was driven by financial concerns rather than public feedback.
Solana Political Controversy Divides Opinion
Some crypto industry leaders commented on the Solana ad controversy without directly supporting or opposing it.
Nicolas Pennie, co-founder of Helius, stated:
“Virtue signaling will always be cringe regardless of political ideology.”
Tushar Jain, co-founder of Multicoin Capital, first called the Solana crypto ad “bold and risky.” Later, he deleted his comment, saying:
“It would have been more effective to focus on deeper culture war issues like the failings of the oppressor-oppressed worldview, not surface culture war issues like pronouns.”
”What I liked here was the willingness to take risks in marketing and get people talking. Too many big orgs are too risk averse, they are not playing to win they are playing to not lose. But the execution could have been better and sent the same deeper message without alienating a portion of the audience on surface level issues.”
A product lead at Base, Aneri, said the Solana ad controversy conflicted with the idea of blockchain inclusivity:
“This new Solana ad misses the mark so much. Offensive, cringe, and pandering.”
Deleting the Solana video did not stop criticism, as some users continued to discuss whether it was meant to appeal to specific ideological groups.
Solana Token Price Drop Follows Controversy
Following the Solana backlash, SOL’s price dropped nearly 4% within 24 hours. Data from TradingView shows SOL/USD trading at $125.42 on March 18, 2025, slightly recovering from a low near $124.05.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits at 37.67, indicating that SOL may be approaching oversold levels. Meanwhile, the 50-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) is positioned at $126.69, suggesting that SOL is struggling to maintain momentum above key resistance levels.
Trading volume remains relatively low at 1.11K, showing a lack of strong buying interest following the price dip. The market sentiment remains cautious as traders assess the impact of the Solana controversy on investor confidence.
Over the past few days, SOL experienced volatility, first climbing above $130 before dropping as backlash over Solana’s deleted ad intensified. The next support level appears near $122, while resistance at $126-$128 may limit any immediate recovery.
Several industry figures noted that the Solana token price drop followed actions by key figures in the Solana ecosystem, who removed their previous support for the ad.
Solana Deleted Ad Without Explanation
Solana has not issued a public statement on why the Solana deleted video. The Solana Foundation has not responded to requests for comment.
The Solana ad controversy raised further discussion on marketing decisions in the crypto industry. Some believe the Solana marketing misstep was an attempt to create engagement, while others questioned its long-term impact on Solana’s reputation.
Solana’s Future After the Ad Controversy
The Solana backlash occurred just days after Solana’s fifth anniversary. The Solana blockchain launched its first block on March 16, 2020.
Chris Chung, founder of Titan, a Solana-based swap platform, commented on the blockchain’s development:
“In the next five years, Solana could be unrecognizable—and not in a bad way.”
Chung also noted that the Solana network had been tested by the meme coin frenzy, which showed its ability to handle large transaction volumes.
The Solana ad controversy has brought attention to how crypto companies handle sensitive topics in their marketing campaigns. Above all, the deleted Solana ad may be gone, but its impact on Solana’s public image and Solana token price drop remains.
