We conducted a survey of 42 key figures in the Solana ecosystem. What are their views on the cryptocurrency industry?

Original Title: "We surveyed 42 Solana founders. Here's what they said."

Author: Jack Kubinec

Translation: Baihua Blockchain

Lightspeed conducted an anonymous survey and distributed it to Solana founders, heavy users, etc., aiming to genuinely understand their views on other ecosystems, venture capital firms, startups, and more.

The survey questions covered various options and provided spaces for written responses, edited for grammar and clarity.

Here are the results from our survey of 42 founders:

1. Which blockchain would you choose besides Solana?

Some founders also stated: "If it weren't for Solana, I wouldn't be involved in cryptocurrency."

2. What is your favorite political party in the U.S.?

3. Which crypto VC do you rate the highest?

Founders also mentioned: "Choosing one is unfair."

4. Which crypto VC do you think is the least promising?

Founders also stated: "Asian venture capital firms that blindly follow based on who the lead investor is are also not okay."

5. It is said that the Solana inner circle is very deep, often promoting projects within the circle at the expense of those outside. What do you think?

Founders also expressed:

"I don't know, it's all the same, not much difference."

"I don't like this question; it feels like it's stirring up controversy rather than providing information."

"It does exist, and I am part of it, but it's not 'at the expense of non-circle projects.' Because I have also invested a lot of time and money in 'non-circle projects.' It's a two-way street—what you put in, you will get back."

"It doesn't exist, yet I am part of it."

"In the early days and during the bear market, some personal relationship networks formed. Those who valued cooperation and helping Solana naturally built closer relationships over the years. Some people (including those from the OG Solana Labs team) later became influential figures with a large following. This is natural. Almost all surviving teams have also received funding from venture capital and Solana Ventures. These are facts, but I don't see any malice in it. The Solana Foundation is actively working to disperse this influence and support those doing great work in the ecosystem (like Superteam, etc.). In my view, Toly is particularly good at supporting builders impartially, not based on personal preferences, but according to 1) how cool their projects are, and 2) their sincerity."

6. What is the biggest problem facing Solana right now?

Founders also stated: "There is an urgent need for more block space. Demand has increased by 5 times + prices have doubled = to keep application developers' costs unchanged, block size needs to be increased by 10 times!"

7. What do you think about the significance of memecoins for Solana?

8. Solana has many startups that you didn't create; which one do you most wish to join?

9. Which one do you least want to join?

Founders also mentioned: "I don't want to join companies that haven't shown any progress."

10. What is the most overrated sector in Solana?

Founders also stated: "SocialFi, DeSci, and gaming still have potential."

11. What is the most underrated sector in Solana?

12. Which of the following has the most damaging effect on Solana's reputation?

Founders also mentioned: "FTX was both the best and the worst in the early days, haha."

There are many topics worth exploring in depth, but I found a few points particularly noteworthy: other founders rated pump.fun poorly, but they generally believe that memecoins are beneficial to the ecosystem. Base and Sui seem to be the most attractive competitors to Solana at the moment.

As a journalist, it's not easy to get founders to speak candidly in public. This survey helped me better understand the true thoughts of Solana founders—at least from an overall perspective, it seems quite genuine.