Solana News Today: Solana Co-Founder Sparks Debate by Calling Communities Useless

Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko has faced significant criticism on crypto Twitter for a controversial comment suggesting that “communities are useless,” sparking a heated debate about the role of grassroots engagement in the Web3 space. The remark came in response to a post by Nikita Bier, X (formerly Twitter)’s Head of Product, discussing potential updates to the platform. Yakovenko’s dismissal of communities was widely interpreted as a critique of both Twitter’s Communities feature and the broader community-driven nature of many crypto projects [1].

The backlash was swift, with Jesse Pollak, creator of Base and a Coinbase executive, publicly challenging Yakovenko’s stance. Pollak emphasized that community support is not just valuable but essential—particularly for meme coin projects, which thrive on active participation and organic engagement [1]. Several users echoed this sentiment, noting the irony of Yakovenko’s comment given Solana’s recent growth has been largely driven by its meme coin ecosystem [1].

Solana’s on-chain activity is currently fueled by a robust community of meme token holders. According to data from Dune Analytics, 62.4% of SMTA (Solana Meme Token Analysis) token holders are classified as “Diamond Hands,” indicating a strong commitment to long-term holding despite price volatility [1]. Meanwhile, short-term traders account for the remaining 37.6% of holders. Despite recent dips in price, long-term investors have continued to accumulate tokens, with Solana holders purchasing $367 million worth of SOL in a single week [1].

The controversy highlights a broader trend in the crypto industry: while technological innovation is foundational, it is community engagement that often drives real-world adoption and sustained user retention. Developers like Pollak argue that communities are not just a byproduct of success but an essential part of the infrastructure of Web3 [1]. One user pointed out that “literally every coin on Solana now uses communities instead of Telegram chats,” underscoring the shift toward more integrated, interactive community platforms [1].

As competition among Layer 1 blockchains intensifies, the debate over the role of communities is becoming more urgent. Critics argue that underestimating the value of grassroots support risks alienating one of Solana’s most critical stakeholders. In a space where user participation and belief in the ecosystem can directly influence price and growth, the message is clear—technology alone is not sufficient for long-term success [1].

Sources:

[1] Solana’s Anatoly Yakovenko Under Fire After Calling Communities “Useless”—https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68902b2fb3afd664ab38300c/