Miami was the city. Vice City was the theme. Here's how Solflare's week at Solana Accelerate went.
Miami has always had a reputation. And at Solana Accelerate, Solflare showed up ready to match it.
As a signature sponsor of Solana Accelerate, held alongside CoinDesk’s Consensus on May 5 and bringing together 3,000+ builders, executives, and ecosystem leaders, we came with a great booth, a theme nobody expected, and merch people genuinely wanted to keep.
Here’s how it went.
A theme to match the vibe
Half-measures don’t make impressions. So we went all in. With the conference being held in Miami, it only seemed appropriate that we honour Vice City the right way.
The booth design took its cue from the popular video game — fitting and consistent all the way through. The typography, the messaging, the colors, the layout. Nothing felt bolted on.
The theme extended all the way to what we handed out: yellow Hawaiian shirts, tank tops, and hats.
The shirts in particular took on a life of their own. People were wearing them on the conference floor within the hour.
Our goal was for the people to actually feel our presence rather than just see it. And they did. One of the reactions that stuck with us: “Solflare is always here for us!” — not something you typically hear at a conference booth.
The Beach Club
Running a booth at a big conference is much like real estate: “Location, location, location!” Our booth was placed right at the entrance of the venue, the first thing people saw when they walked in. And our striking yellow was impossible to miss from the moment people stepped through the doors.
We named it the Solflare Beach Club: palm trees, a glowing Solflare S on a living wall, a “Mission Passed” arch, and enough seating that people naturally stuck around.
The space filled up quickly and stayed that way. People used it as a meeting point. Some came back a few times.
The feedback from Brownys, the production company behind the build, put it plainly: “When other projects saw your booth, they asked how they could even stand a chance today.”
Beyond the booth
Solana Accelerate was just one part of a packed week. On May 4, the team attended Solana Consumer Day and the Accelerate Miami Welcome Mixer. We were also at Port side events on May 4 and 7, and Solana Accelerate AI on May 6.
At Consensus, our co-founder, Vidor, joined a panel on “How to Ensure Data Consistency & Resilience Under Peak Loads”. The team also sat down for interviews with Sandmarx, Bitcoin.com, and IPO Studios during the week.
Super Kart: Miami Grand Prix
If the booth was the centerpiece of the day, the Super Kart: Miami Grand Prix on the evening of May 6 was the highlight of the night. We hosted a Mario Kart tournament under the Solflare banner — checkered flags, a giant screen, golden question-mark boxes, and a tropical venue that leaned fully into the theme.
The conversations that mattered
The aesthetic brought people in. What kept them was substance. Real conversations happened between builders, users, founders, and the Solflare team. Throughout the day, people stopped by to connect, ask questions, and get hands-on with Solflare products.
People recognized Solflare and engaged with our brand in a way that felt earned. Product feedback was positive. And community appreciation was — in the words of our event manager — skyrocketing.
More than a few people mentioned they’re already watching what we’re preparing for Breakpoint in London. That kind of anticipation is the best signal you can take home from a conference.
Looking ahead
Solana Accelerate Miami reminded us why showing up with intention makes a difference.
The Solana ecosystem is growing. The energy in Miami was real. And when you give people something worth experiencing, they don’t forget it.
We’ll see you in London.
