EddieJayonCrypto
20 Mar 25
Solana Labs co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko apologized for a controversial Solana Foundation advertisement that targeted marginalized groups. In a social media post, Yakovenko expressed shame and gratitude to those who called out the ad. He committed to refocusing the foundation on decentralization and...
Solana Labs co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko issued an apology for a controversial Solana Foundation advertisement that targeted marginalized groups. In a social media post, Yakovenko expressed shame and gratitude to those who called out the ad. He committed to refocusing the foundation on decentralization and open-source software development to address community concerns. The promotional video, "America is Back — Time to Accelerate," received backlash for injecting political discourse into the crypto space. Although the Solana Foundation deleted the video after facing criticism, it had already gained over one million views. Solana Foundation Vice President of Technology clarified that only a few individuals were involved in the ad's production and that it did not represent the Solana community.
Anatoly Yakovenko further stated that the recent Solana Foundation advertisement was "mean and punching down on a marginalized group." He expressed gratitude to the Solana ecosystem members who called out the ad immediately. He committed to ensuring that the Solana Foundation remains focused on decentralization and open-source software development rather than engaging in cultural debates. This response signals an effort to realign the foundation’s priorities and address community concerns.
The controversial promotional video, "America is Back — Time to Accelerate," received significant criticism for injecting political discourse into the crypto space. The Solana Foundation deleted the video within nine hours of its release, even though it had already garnered over one million views. Following the backlash, Solana Foundation Vice President of Technology Matt Sorg clarified that only a few individuals were involved in the ad’s production and that it did not represent the Solana community.