1inch co-founder Anton Bukov has fully stepped away from the decentralized finance project’s operations after more than seven years and is now launching a new venture called Second Tier. Bukov said the company fired him in late November 2025 after he pushed for changes to management and operations. However, 1inch gave a different account of his recent role, stating that Bukov had not been actively involved in organizations linked to the project since December 2025.
Operational Departure
Bukov remains a co-founder and 50% shareholder but no longer has operational authority, with no role in product architecture or security and no oversight of either area. 1inch co-founder Sergej Kunz sought to reassure users about the project’s operations, stating that Bukov’s departure will not disrupt 1inch Network’s infrastructure or systems.
New Venture
Alongside his departure statement, Bukov announced Second Tier as his next venture, with public information about its products, funding, and launch schedule remaining limited. The move closes Bukov’s active operating role at a project he co-founded with Kunz in May 2019, where he worked on protocol architecture and security, according to his account.
Based on reporting from crypto.news.
