Solana Protected Gender Identity Before Panning It in Anti-Queer Ad
The Solana Foundation faced significant backlash late Monday after it withdrew an advertisement that many deemed anti-queer, only nine hours after launching it. The contentious ad featured a personification of “America” undergoing therapy, struggling to focus on grand ideas related to technology, cryptocurrency, and space exploration. Instead, the therapist insists that “America” concentrate on “pronouns” and “coming up with new genders.” The ad concludes with an exasperated “America” declaring, “I want to invent technologies, not genders.”
Critics swiftly denounced the advertisement, particularly in the context of the Solana Foundation—a Swiss nonprofit dedicated to promoting the Solana blockchain—deploying what appeared to be right-wing rhetoric to market its first U.S. conference. Reactions from community figures were varied, with some accusing the foundation of pandering, while others found it offensive.
This strategic move represents a stark departure from the organization’s earlier stance, which highlighted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as cornerstones of its values. Attendees of its previous events were expected to uphold a standard of respect, encompassing various identities, including gender.
The foundation’s most recent conference in Singapore, held just weeks prior to a significant anti-trans political shift marked by President Donald Trump’s campaign strategies, included a code of conduct that condemned any form of intimidation based on “gender” and “gender identity.” This code explicitly warned that offenders would face expulsion from future gatherings.
Despite the Solana Foundation’s previously stated commitment to DEI principles, it remains unclear if this latest advertising action signals a broader shift in its core mission. CoinDesk reported difficulties in locating the code of conduct for the upcoming conference, and a representative from Solana did not respond to requests for clarification.
This incident threatens to entangle the cryptocurrency sector deeper into partisan politics, raising concerns among industry members who traditionally prefer to maintain a degree of neutrality. The crypto industry’s previous alignment with President Trump often stemmed from a singular focus on his administration’s favorable stance towards cryptocurrency, leaving room for collaboration with Democratic figures as well.
As the landscape evolves, the potential for the cryptocurrency community to lose its bipartisan appeal may be shaping up as a significant concern, along with the implications for future engagements and public perception.
