1inch co-founder steps down from operations, retains 50% stake

Anton Bukov, co-founder of the DeFi platform 1inch Network (1INCH), announced via X that he has stepped down from the company's operations as of the end of November 2025, citing disagreements over strategic direction and leadership. He clarified that he is no longer involved in any product architecture or security-related tasks. However, Bukov added that he maintains his position as a co-founder and a shareholder with a 50% stake. Alongside the announcement, Bukov unveiled a new independent DeFi infrastructure project called Second Tier. Bukov co-founded 1inch in May 2019 and subsequently led the architectural design of its core features, including the 1inch Router, Fusion, and cross-chain swap functionality.