Send an anonymous survey to 42 key Solana figures to gather their perspectives on the crypto industry.

By: blockbeats|2025/01/06 14:15:03

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?

Send an anonymous survey to 42 key Solana figures to gather their perspectives on the crypto industry.

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.

Original Article Link

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