Anton Bukov, co-founder of the DeFi protocol 1inch, has been fired from the project. 1inch confirmed that Bukov has not been involved with the project since December 2025. Bukov has since launched a new DeFi venture called Second Tier.
The December 2025 Exit
1inch confirmed the departure in a statement, noting that Bukov has not been part of the project for several months. The company did not provide a reason for the firing or elaborate on the circumstances surrounding Bukov's exit. The confirmation comes after speculation in the crypto community about Bukov's status.
Bukov co-founded 1inch, a decentralized exchange aggregator, in 2019. The protocol quickly became a key player in the DeFi ecosystem, routing trades across multiple liquidity sources. His departure marks a significant change in the project's leadership.
Bukov's New Project: Second Tier
Bukov has already moved on. He launched Second Tier, a new DeFi venture. Details about the project remain scarce. The name suggests a focus on layer-2 scaling or secondary markets, but Bukov has not publicly disclosed the specific use case or technology behind Second Tier.
The launch of a new venture by a fired co-founder is unusual in the crypto space, where founders often leave on amicable terms or remain as advisors. Bukov's swift move to start something new indicates he is not stepping away from the industry.
Unanswered Questions
Why was Bukov fired? 1inch has not answered that question. The company has not said whether the decision was related to performance, strategy disagreements, or other issues. Bukov has not commented publicly on his departure or his new project.
Second Tier's exact focus and launch timeline are also unknown. The DeFi space is crowded, and new projects face intense competition. Whether Second Tier will build on Bukov's experience at 1inch or take a completely different direction remains to be seen.
1inch continues to operate without Bukov. The protocol's development and governance are now in the hands of the remaining team. The reasons for Bukov's firing and the details of Second Tier are still unclear.
