Anton Bukov, a co-founder of 1inch, has stepped away from the decentralized finance platform, announcing a new project called Second Tier.
Bukov claims he was fired in late November 2025 after advocating for management changes. Although he remains a co-founder and holds a 50% share of the company, he does not take part in day-to-day operations.
In December 2025, 1inch stated that Bukov had ceased active involvement with the organization, asserting that its systems remain unaffected by his departure. Bukov, however, maintains that his dismissal occurred just prior to this, amid his efforts to influence leadership dynamics within the company.
In a statement on X, he shared that user and colleague feedback prompted him to engage more in leadership roles, leading to his months-long effort to reshape the company's operations. He confirmed, “In late November 2025, I was fired,” and emphasized that he no longer has any authority over product architecture or security.
1inch's co-founder Sergej Kunz reassured users that Bukov's exit would not disrupt the network’s infrastructure or systems. Kunz remains at the helm of development for the protocol's trading and liquidity products.
In conjunction with his departure, Bukov has introduced Second Tier, which he describes as a venture built with partners who share his values. Details about the new project's offerings remain sparse.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.
