“I Feel Deeply Guilty” — Solana CEO Speaks Out on Controversial Advertisement
Anatoly Yakovenko, CEO of Solana Labs, has finally expressed his views on the widely controversial advertisement “America is Back — It’s Time to Accelerate.” This advertisement inappropriately mixed American patriotism, technological innovation, and gender identity issues, leading to numerous criticisms.
“That advertisement was really bad, and I still feel guilty about it.” Yakovenko admitted on X, stating that he faced immense public pressure due to the ad. He mentioned that he had previously downplayed the issue and did not directly point out the nature of the advertisement — its unfriendliness and attacks on marginalized groups.
Yakovenko praised those in the Solana ecosystem who dared to highlight the problems with the advertisement. The ad quickly sparked heated discussions after its release and was subsequently deleted.
Yakovenko stated that this experience has led him to reflect deeply, and he will ensure that Solana focuses more on open-source software development and decentralization in the future, while steering clear of “culture wars.” He emphasized that Solana is a technological platform that should serve everyone, rather than becoming a focal point of controversy.
It is noteworthy that the advertisement was deleted shortly after its release, demonstrating Solana's quick response to public feedback. Meanwhile, major participants in the Solana ecosystem also deleted related tweets and expressed dissatisfaction with the ad's content.
This incident serves as a reminder that as technology develops, it also needs to pay more attention to social responsibility and moral boundaries. As a leader in the blockchain field, Solana should set a good example for the industry.
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