At the Accelerate 2025 conference, Akshay BD from the Solana Foundation made a sharp case for why today’s financial system no longer works for most people. Speaking on a panel, Akshay said traditional capital markets are leaving too many behind — and it’s time for a new model.
“The 60-40 portfolio hasn’t paid off for a long time,” he said, pointing to low bond yields and inflated asset prices. “People don’t really know how the traditional asset allocation model works anymore.”
Akshay, who holds the unusual title of “Non-Chief Marketing Officer” at the Solana Foundation, argued that the gap between those who earn money and those who build wealth is growing wider.
A big part of the problem, he said, is that most retail investors can’t access private markets — a space typically reserved for the wealthy and accredited investors.
That leaves regular people chasing returns in overcrowded public markets, where prices are already high and volatility is the norm.
But Akshay believes blockchain can flip this script.
He laid out a future where anyone with a smartphone could own a stake in real-world assets — whether it’s a local café or a clean energy startup. Through tokenization and simple tools like QR codes, ownership could become as easy as scanning your screen.
This, he said, is what Solana wants to enable: “universal basic ownership.”
Akshay contrasted this with the idea of universal basic income — a safety net for those displaced by automation and AI. But instead of a welfare-driven model, he’s pushing for one where people build wealth by owning pieces of the economy directly.
“The question is, which way do we go?” he asked. “Is it […] universal basic income, where we’re essentially creating a welfare economy to support those unable to keep jobs or own assets? Or is it what we propose, universal basic ownership, where everybody with a mobile phone can own assets?”
He warned that if AI continues to grow unchecked without solving the wealth gap, the divide will only deepen. Ownership, he argued, might be the more sustainable solution.
Within the Solana ecosystem, Akshay’s role isn’t about leading marketing from the top down. As “Non-Chief Marketing Officer,” he focuses on supporting community-driven efforts — letting builders and users shape the story.
While the vision is long-term, Solana’s token took a short-term hit. At the time of the panel, SOL was down 6%, trading around $175.
Still, Akshay’s message was clear: the system isn’t working — and it’s time to build something better.
Also Read: “I’m not a Fixer for anyone” — CZ Slams WSJ for “Hit Piece” Over WLF Claims
