Solana Foundation president Lily Liu announced on Friday, October 16, that the organization cancelled its scheduled Shanghai event due to an unexpected surge in registrations. The event, set to launch Solana’s Accelerate China developer tour, drew far more interest than anticipated, compelling organizers to call off the gathering just hours before it was to begin.
Police presence and registration surge
According to Liu, registrations for the Shanghai developer event rapidly exceeded capacity following wide publicity. The Foundation had planned sessions at the Shangri-La hotel, but organizers cited “logistical considerations at the venue” in a message sent to participants. On-site attendees also reported a significant law enforcement presence at the venue early on Friday.
One attendee using the handle Olivia (@knowyourself518) on X (formerly Twitter) shared that eight to nine police officers arrived at the event’s location, reporting the suspension of all activities before the program could commence.
Due to the high demand generated by publicity, registrations quadrupled overnight and went far beyond the event cap, according to Solana Foundation president Lily Liu. She characterized the overwhelming sign-ups as evidence of strong community engagement.
Guests with confirmed registrations reportedly received an email advising them that the morning’s agenda had been postponed. Organizers apologized for the abrupt notification and pledged to provide updates on future scheduling.
Impact on Solana’s China tour
The canceled Shanghai event was slated to be the first of four Chinese stops in the Foundation’s Accelerate China tour. The project’s official event page now lists Hangzhou, scheduled for October 18, as the next opportunity for local engagement. The tour is expected to continue to Shenzhen on October 20 and Beijing on October 22, although no further changes have been confirmed.
Solana, a blockchain platform known for its high-speed, low-fee network, has been actively seeking developer and ecosystem growth in Asia. The Foundation’s effort to connect with Chinese developers is seen as a strategic initiative amid Mainland China’s challenging regulatory environment.
Mini dictionary: Solana Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting the development and adoption of the Solana blockchain.
Past disruptions, regulatory challenges
Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, questioned the Foundation’s understanding of local laws following the publicized cancelation. Replying on X, CZ referenced a similar incident in October 2025, when police intervention led to the suspension of a Solana Accelerate APAC hackathon in Shenzhen for safety reasons. Organizers had cited overcrowding risks during that event as well.
Just a day earlier, CZ had described securing both an office and legal marketing presence in Mainland China as a significant achievement for Solana, claiming even BNB Chain had not managed to do so. The Foundation had recently displayed its branding on the Shanghai skyline and highlighted its new Pudong office, now considered one of the city’s most prestigious commercial locations.
Despite this visibility, strict regulations remain in place. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has prohibited most cryptocurrency-related business in Mainland China since 2021, complicating efforts to organize crypto events in the region.
Solana’s plans to continue with its remaining Accelerate China events remain unchanged for now. Whether Hangzhou proceeds as scheduled will likely serve as an indicator for the rest of the tour.
SOL price moves after the announcement
Following news of the cancellation, SOL traded around $105.50, reflecting a nearly 4% daily gain based on data from CoinMarketCap.
| Date | Location | Event Status |
|---|---|---|
| October 16 | Shanghai | Cancelled |
| October 18 | Hangzhou | Scheduled |
| October 20 | Shenzhen | Scheduled |
| October 22 | Beijing | Scheduled |
