Solana has deleted a promotional video from its X (formerly Twitter) account after facing intense criticism for using politically charged language around gender identity in a corporate advertisement.

The now-deleted two-and-a-half-minute ad was created for the upcoming Solana Accelerate conference and featured a man, symbolizing “America,” in a therapy session. 

The character expressed a desire to innovate in crypto, but the therapist sarcastically suggested he focus on “coming up with a new gender” or “pronouns” instead. The conversation escalated into a dramatic monologue where the man rejected the idea, stating he wanted to “build onchain,” reclaim innovation, and “invent technologies, not genders.”

The ad, posted on March 17, quickly sparked outrage for its apparent mockery of progressive values, drawing criticism for making light of a divisive political issue.‍

Backlash and Industry Reaction

Before its deletion, the ad was viewed over 1.2 million times and received over 1,300 comments and 1,400 reposts, with the majority condemning the video’s messaging.

Several key figures in the Web3 and crypto space spoke out against the ad.

Cinneamhain Ventures partner Adam Cochran noted that major Solana ecosystem players initially promoted the ad but later deleted their endorsements.

“They rolled it back because it hurt their business, not because they thought it was wrong. This is who they chose to be.”

Sean O’Connor, COO of Web3 infrastructure firm Blocknative, also criticized the campaign, calling it “tone-deaf.”

“At a time when trans people are getting denied passports and being erased by the government… this is the ad you put out?”

The backlash led to Solana quietly pulling the ad after approximately nine hours without issuing an official statement.‍

Marketing Blunder or Deliberate PR Strategy?

While many saw the ad as an ill-conceived marketing move, some believed the controversy was a calculated PR stunt.

Zubic, co-founder of Space Rider XYZ, dismissed the outrage, claiming Solana’s marketing team had planned the entire scenario.

“Every single person is talking about it, and you still don’t get it? All press is literally good press.”

Despite this theory, the decision to delete the video suggests that Solana underestimated the negative impact of the ad. Whether it was an intentional strategy or a genuine miscalculation, the incident has reignited debates about the role of politics in crypto marketing and the risks of alienating communities with divisive messaging.