Send an anonymous survey to 42 key Solana figures to gather their perspectives on the crypto industry.
Original Title: We surveyed 42 Solana founders. Here's what they said.
Original Author: Jack Kubinec, Blockworks
Original Translation: Blockchain Basics
Lightspeed conducted an anonymous survey and distributed it to Solana's founders, heavy users, etc., aiming to truly understand their views on other ecosystems, venture capital firms, startups, etc.
The survey questions covered a variety of options and provided a write-in space, which was edited for grammar and clarity.
Here are the survey results from our 42 founders:
1. Besides Solana, which blockchain would you choose?

Some founders also expressed: "If not for Solana, I wouldn't be involved in cryptocurrency."
2. What is your favorite U.S. political party?

3. Which crypto VC do you rate the highest?

Founders also stated: "Picking one is unfair."
4. Which crypto VC do you view the least favorably?

Founders also stated: "Blindly following Asian venture capital firms that follow lead investors based on who they are is also not very okay."
5. It is said that the Solana inner circle is deeply interconnected. To drive the development of in-group projects, non-in-group projects are often sacrificed. What are your thoughts on this?

Founders also stated:
"I don't know, it's all the same, not much of a difference."
"I don't like this question, it feels like provoking controversy rather than providing information."
"It does exist, and I am also a part of it, but it's not 'sacrificing non-in-group projects.' Because I have also invested a significant amount of time and money in 'non-in-group projects.' It's mutual—you give, you also receive."
「It does not exist, yet I am a part of it.」
「In the early days and during bear markets, personal relationship networks were formed. Those who valued collaboration and helping Solana naturally built closer relationships over the years. Some individuals (including those from the OG Solana Labs team) later became influential figures with large followings. This is natural. Almost all surviving teams also received VC funding and support from Solana Ventures. These are facts, but I don't see malice in it. The Solana Foundation has done an excellent job actively diversifying this influence and supporting those who have performed well in the ecosystem (e.g., Superteam). In my view, Toly is particularly good at impartially supporting builders based not on personal preferences but on 1) the coolness of the projects they are building and 2) their sincerity.」
6. What is currently Solana's biggest issue?

The founders also state: "There is an urgent need for more block space. Demand has increased by 5x + prices have doubled = to keep app developer costs constant, we need to increase block size by 10x!"
7. How do you view Memecoins' significance for Solana?

8. Solana has many startups that are not your own creations; which one do you most want to join?

9. Which one do you least want to join?

The founders also state: "Companies that have not yet shown promise are also not desirable to join."
10. What is the most overrated Solana sector?

The founders also state: "SocialFi, DeSci, and gaming still have potential."
11. What is the most underrated Solana sector?

12. Which of the following items has caused the most damage to Solana's reputation?

The founders also said: "FTX was both the best and worst early on, haha."
There is a lot to unpack here, but I found a few points particularly noteworthy: other founders had low opinions of pump.fun, but they generally believed memecoins were beneficial to the ecosystem. Base and Sui seem to be the most attractive Solana competitors at the moment.
As a journalist, getting founders to speak openly in public is not easy. This survey helped me better understand the Solana founders' true thoughts—at least somewhat authentically overall.
You may also like

WBT Pulled a Quiet 15X While Everyone Was Watching Meme Coins
WBT, the native token of WhiteBIT exchange, surged from under $6 in 2023 to over $50 by 2026,…

Bank of Japan to Test Blockchain-Based Reserve Settlement Platform
Key Takeaways The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is leading the way as the first G7 member to explore…

Ethereum Price Prediction: Whales Impact 7th Red Month as RWA Sector Achieves $15B Record
Key Takeaways: Ethereum is on the brink of recording its seventh consecutive red month, indicating a potential prolonged…

VanEck’s Macro Bottom Thesis: Is the $60K–$70K Floor the Real Cycle Reset?
Key Takeaways VanEck CEO Jan van Eck asserts that Bitcoin is forming a macro market bottom around the…

WBT Did a Quiet 15X While Everyone Focused on Meme Coins
Key Takeaways WBT, WhiteBIT’s native cryptocurrency, has surged over 3,000% from its lowest point in late 2022 to…

Arthur Hayes Forecasts Bitcoin Price Surge to $750,000 by 2027 Due to Monetary Expansion
Key Takeaways Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, forecasts Bitcoin’s price to reach $250,000 in 2026 and then surge…

Iranian Exchange Outflow Surges 700% Amid Stiffening USDT Sanctions
Key Takeaways: Iranian cryptocurrency exchange outflows surged by 700% following military strikes, signaling rapid capital flight from the…

Crypto Price Prediction Today 2 March – XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum
Key Takeaways XRP is poised to potentially reach $5, driven by its role in stablecoin and tokenized asset…

Solana Price Outlook: Why A Billion-Dollar Loss Didn’t Deter This SOL Whale — What Insight Do They Have?
Key Takeaways A major institutional investor in Solana withstands a huge unrealized loss, maintaining confidence in the long-term…

Bitcoin Price Prediction: $1 Billion Floods Back Into Crypto ETFs — Is the Bull Run Restarting?
Key Takeaways A notable $1 billion has re-entered crypto exchange-traded products, hinting at potential upward momentum in Bitcoin…

Ethereum Price and BitMine Shares Jump 10% After Latest Treasury Buy
Key Takeaways BitMine Immersion Technologies has embarked on a bold move by purchasing a significant amount of Ethereum,…

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Fear Just Hit a Level Seen Only Twice Before — What Happens Next Could Change Everything
Key Takeaways Bitcoin’s price has dropped towards $60,000, paralleling a significant drop in market sentiment, hitting a level…

XRP Price Prediction: Are Investors Ready to Unload $650 Million XRP?
Key Takeaways A significant inflow of approximately 472 million XRP, valued at about $650 million, has been transferred…

Bitcoin and WW3: 5 Key Indicators as BTC Eyes Global Liquidity Boom
Key Takeaways Bitcoin remains resilient amidst geopolitical tensions, sustaining above key support levels. Drastic decline in Bitcoin exchange…

New ChatGPT Forecasts the Price of XRP, Solana, and Shiba Inu by the Close of 2026
Key Takeaways ChatGPT suggests a robust growth outlook for XRP, Solana, and Shiba Inu by 2026, forecasting significant…

Why Is Crypto Down Today? – February 4, 2026
Key Takeaways The crypto market declined by 2.3% over the past 24 hours, with a total market capitalization…

Magic Eden Adjusts Course: Ending EVM and Bitcoin NFT Markets as It Doubles Down on Solana
Key Takeaways Magic Eden is ending its NFT marketplaces for Ethereum, Polygon, and Bitcoin to focus on Solana…

Crypto, Iran Conflict, and Oil: Geopolitical Turmoil Could Stymie the Crypto Surge
Key Takeaways: The intensifying Iran conflict is impacting cryptocurrency volatility and investment sentiment. Disruptions in the Strait of…
WBT Pulled a Quiet 15X While Everyone Was Watching Meme Coins
WBT, the native token of WhiteBIT exchange, surged from under $6 in 2023 to over $50 by 2026,…
Bank of Japan to Test Blockchain-Based Reserve Settlement Platform
Key Takeaways The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is leading the way as the first G7 member to explore…
Ethereum Price Prediction: Whales Impact 7th Red Month as RWA Sector Achieves $15B Record
Key Takeaways: Ethereum is on the brink of recording its seventh consecutive red month, indicating a potential prolonged…
VanEck’s Macro Bottom Thesis: Is the $60K–$70K Floor the Real Cycle Reset?
Key Takeaways VanEck CEO Jan van Eck asserts that Bitcoin is forming a macro market bottom around the…
WBT Did a Quiet 15X While Everyone Focused on Meme Coins
Key Takeaways WBT, WhiteBIT’s native cryptocurrency, has surged over 3,000% from its lowest point in late 2022 to…
Arthur Hayes Forecasts Bitcoin Price Surge to $750,000 by 2027 Due to Monetary Expansion
Key Takeaways Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, forecasts Bitcoin’s price to reach $250,000 in 2026 and then surge…