Anton Bukov, co-founder of the decentralized exchange platform 1inch, has announced his departure after being 'fired' in November 2025. He is launching a new project called Second Tier while remaining
In an X post on July 16, 2026, Anton Bukov, one of the founders of the decentralized exchange (DEX) platform 1inch, disclosed that he had been 'fired' from his role in November 2025. This came after he pushed for changes to the company’s management and operations.
Bukov's departure is not disrupting 1inch Network's infrastructure or systems according to Sergej Kunz, who remains as a co-founder of the platform. In contrast, Bukov announced that he would launch a new project called Second Tier while retaining his role as a co-founder with a significant stake in the company.
The announcement has created some confusion due to contradictory statements from both parties regarding Bukov's involvement since December 2025. While 1inch claimed he had not been actively involved, Bukov stated that he no longer takes part in operations and has no role in product architecture or security oversight.
This development is significant for the DEX market as 1inch was one of the early players offering decentralized trading capabilities. The departure of a co-founder could impact the platform's future direction and governance structure, especially given his previous influence on major changes within the company.
For traders, this news might lead to increased scrutiny of both 1inch’s stock (INCH) and potential opportunities in Second Tier. Given the competitive landscape of decentralized finance (DeFi), any new projects from former key players can attract attention and potentially drive market interest or volatility.
Source: Cointelegraph. Summarized and rewritten by the Vexoda Newsroom. This is market news, not financial advice.