What did Solana President Lily Liu actually say about blockchain gaming?

Solana Foundation President Lily Liu said “gaming on a blockchain is not coming back.” The comment came after Meta shut down its Metaverse project. It quickly went viral across the crypto community.

Why did Lily Liu’s statement go viral?

The remark was blunt and came from a senior leader who also lists herself as head of gaming. It challenged a major narrative in crypto. The timing and tone made it highly shareable.

How did the Solana team respond to the statement?

Instead of correcting it, Solana’s team turned it into a joke. A fake “crisis statement” called her comments “extremely based.” The response was later clarified as satire.

What does “extremely based” mean in this context?

“Based” is internet slang meaning bold, honest, or unapologetically truthful. The team used it humorously to support Liu’s comment. It reflects crypto culture’s meme-driven communication style.

Why are people saying blockchain gaming has failed?

The play-to-earn model, popularised in 2021, has largely collapsed. Many GameFi tokens have lost value, and user engagement has declined. Projects have struggled to sustain long-term growth.

How does this relate to Axie Infinity and GameFi?

Axie Infinity was a leading play-to-earn game during the last crypto bull run. Its success drove interest in blockchain gaming. However, the model proved difficult to sustain, contributing to the sector’s decline.

What does this mean for Solana’s gaming ecosystem?

Solana invested heavily in gaming infrastructure and projects. Liu’s comments suggest a strategic shift away from traditional GameFi models. The focus may move toward other use cases like finance.

Are all blockchain gaming projects struggling?

Many high-profile projects, including some on Solana, have lost momentum. However, this does not mean all blockchain gaming will disappear. This is an opinion, not a guaranteed outcome.

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Solana gaming declared dead as meme erupts

Written by Isaac FrancisPublished Mar 22, 2026, 12:00 AMLast Updated May 7, 2026, 3:20 AM

Solana Foundation President Lily Liu said on March 20 that blockchain gaming is “not coming back,” sparking a viral reaction across the crypto industry.

The remark followed Meta’s decision to shut down its metaverse project after reportedly investing $80 billion, adding weight to Liu’s blunt assessment of the sector’s future.

“…gaming on a blockchain is not coming back,”

Said Solana Foundation President, Lily Liu.

The comment drew attention as Liu lists herself as head of gaming on X and had previously criticised the sector as “intellectually lazy” in February.

Rather than issue a formal response, Solana Foundation Chief Product Officer Vibhu posted a satirical crisis statement calling her remarks “factually correct and extremely based” while joking about damage to the ecosystem.

The exchange quickly evolved into self-aware humour, with Liu engaging in the joke and the official Solana Gaming account naming her “Head of Gaming” in a celebratory post.

The reaction reflects broader industry trends, as the play-to-earn model popularised by Axie Infinity has declined sharply, with GameFi valuations falling and projects like Star Atlas struggling to sustain momentum.

At the time of reporting, Solana price was $88.61.