Solana Labs CEO Anatoly Yakovenko is once again at the center of a heated debate. This time for branding meme coins and NFTs as digital slop in a public back-and-forth with Base creator Jesse Pollak.

The discussion, which unfolded on X over the weekend, revolved around the perceived value of meme coins and NFTs.

Clash Over NFT, Meme Coins Value

Yakovenko maintained his stance that these assets hold no intrinsic value and compared them to loot boxes found in free-to-play mobile games. His tweet said,

Ive said this for years. Memecoins and NFTs are digital slop.

Pollak, however, disagreed and said that the cultural and artistic substance behind NFTs gives them inherent worth. He argued that it is similar to fine art, which holds value regardless of monetization.

The content itself is valuable.

If not for meme coins, nobody would bother using Solana, one X user shot back. Others accused him of undermining the very sectors that revived Solana after its post-FTX slump. Flaunch contributor Caps also criticized Yakovenko for dismissing creators and traders alike.

Still, a few came to his defense. The co-founder of NFT collection Space Riders acknowledged the criticism but saw credibility in Yakovenkos perspective. I dont think hes entirely wrong. If people enjoy digital slop, theyll keep buying it. Thats the point, he added.

It is important to note that meme coins and NFTs remain deeply embedded in Solanas success story.

Solanas Growth Engine

According to a recent report by Syndica, meme coin DApps now account for a record-breaking 62% of Solanas monthly DApp revenue, with Pump.fun leading the charge. The protocol just marked one year as the networks highest earner, after transforming from a simple meme coin launcher into a revenue-sharing exchange.

Pump.funs ambitions are growing, too, as its now setting its sights on competing with social media giants like TikTok and Twitch.