In a surprising twist, Anton Bukov, co-founder of the decentralized finance platform 1inch, has announced his departure from the company to focus on a new venture named Second Tier. After more than seven years of involvement in 1inch's operations, Bukov revealed that he was dismissed in late November 2025 following attempts to reform the company's management structure.
Details of the Departure
Bukov took to social media platform X to explain that his push for change and improvements in leadership led to his eventual exit. While he remains a co-founder with a 50% ownership stake in 1inch, he clarified that this does not grant him any operational power within the company. As a result, he will have no role in product architecture, protocol security, or management decisions moving forward.
The timeline of events has sparked discussions within the crypto community. 1inch responded to his announcement, stating that Bukov had not participated in any operational activities since December 2025, which slightly differs from Bukov's account. However, the company did not contest his claim of being fired.
Community Reactions and Future Directions
1inch co-founder Sergej Kunz sought to reassure the community, emphasizing that Bukov's departure would not disrupt the ongoing operations or product development of the platform. According to Kunz, the 1inch Network will continue to progress its decentralized trading and liquidity solutions without interruption, adhering to the strategy that has defined the project since its inception.
Introduction of Second Tier
Along with his exit announcement, Bukov unveiled his latest endeavor, Second Tier, though he provided limited details about this new project. He expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with individuals who share his vision and values from the outset. The crypto community is keenly watching how this new venture will unfold, especially in light of Bukov's integral role in establishing 1inch as a leading name in DeFi.
Since its launch in May 2019, 1inch has evolved significantly, originally known for its decentralized exchange aggregation and later branching into cross-chain trading solutions and broader DeFi infrastructure. As the space continues to shift, both Bukov's new project and the future of 1inch are set to be focal points in the crypto space.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.
