Solana Labs CEO Anatoly Yakovenko stirred up warmth this week by calling memecoins and NFTs “digital slop” with no actual worth. He made the comment on X as a part of a again‑and‑forth with Base creator Jesse Pollak.
Yakovenko in contrast these tokens to loot bins in free‑to‑play cell video games. His blunt take has drawn each reward and criticism from throughout the crypto world.
Memecoins Face Harsh Phrases
Yakovenko mentioned he’s held this view since no less than January 2024. He argued that the worth individuals pay is all that provides these tokens any value.
Pollak shot again, saying that the content material itself—like a portray hanging in a museum—carries its personal worth, it doesn’t matter what you cost to see it.
The talk has put a highlight on how far Solana’s progress depends on the very issues its chief dismisses.
I’ve mentioned this for years. Memecoins and NFTs are digital slop and don’t have any intrinsic worth. Like a cell recreation loot field. Folks spend $150b a 12 months on cell gaming.
— toly
(@aeyakovenko) July 27, 2025
(@aeyakovenko) Solana Income Tied To ‘Slop’
In keeping with Solana‑centered infrastructure agency Syndica, memecoins made up 62% of the community’s decentralized app income in June. That determine helped push Solana’s take to about $1.6 billion within the first half of 2025.
Massive chunks of that cash got here from Pump.enjoyable’s launchpad and PumpSwap’s DEX aggregator. But Yakovenko mentioned Apple’s loot bins drive income for the App Retailer in a lot the identical approach—worthwhile however seen by many as exploitative.
the content material itself is efficacious. adverts are a solution to monetize that worth. however the content material itself is efficacious. identical to a portray is basically beneficial, no matter whether or not you cost individuals on the museum to see it.
— jesse.base.eth (@jessepollak) July 27, 2025
Group Pushback Builds
Critics have been fast to name him out. X person “Caps,” who writes for Flaunch, accused Yakovenko of mocking his personal person base.
One other commentator, Karbon, mentioned he finds this stance “distasteful,” declaring that Yakovenko promotes memecoins on a regular basis, even whereas claiming they’re nugatory.
The conflict has followers and skeptics debating whether or not it’s truthful to scorn a market that’s so clearly feeding Solana’s progress.
Competitors Heats Up
In the meantime, a rival memecoin launchpad known as LetBonk has been consuming into Pump.enjoyable’s lead. At numerous factors, LetBonk even topped Pump.enjoyable in 24‑hour income.
This reveals that customers are able to chase the subsequent large token wherever it pops up. For Solana, it means more cash within the quick run but in addition extra threat of instability if the hype shifts elsewhere.
Featured picture from iDrop Information, chart from TradingView