1inch posted on X on July 16, 2026, stating that co-founder Anton Bukov “is no longer contributing to the 1inch project and has not been actively involved in any associated organizations since December 2025”1. AMBCrypto reported on July 16, 2026, that Bukov had posted his own account first, saying he was dismissed in late November 2025 and that his roles in 1inch's operations, product architecture and security had ended2. Bukov co-founded 1inch with Sergej Kunz in 2019.
Two leadership moves at 1inch Network on the record since 2024
Every move CryptoLately has verified there, by the day it became public
Moves: The Moves Ledger, CryptoLately's record of verified leadership moves, Oct. 3, 2016 to Oct. 2, 2026.
Read the chart as a table
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov. 6, 2024 | Navazan became Chief Compliance Officer. Hedi Navazan was named Chief Compliance Officer of 1inch Network |
| July 16, 2026 | Bukov left as Co-founder. Anton Bukov left as Co-founder of 1inch Network |
27 executive exits on the record in 2026, the most of any year
Executive exits CryptoLately has verified, by year; 2026 through Oct. 2, 2026
- 2026: 27
- 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Moves: The Moves Ledger, CryptoLately's record of verified leadership moves, Oct. 3, 2016 to Oct. 2, 2026.
Read the chart as a table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 | 27 |
The move
1inch's statement avoided the word Bukov had used. “We're grateful to Anton for everything he has contributed to 1inch Network and the wider Web3 ecosystem over the years, and we wish him and his new project all the best for the future,” the company wrote1. AMBCrypto stated the omission directly: “While 1inch acknowledged Bukov's contributions over the years, it did not address his claim that he was fired”2.
Bukov's own account, by AMBCrypto's report, credited him with building core pieces of the exchange. He said his work "focused on the protocol's architecture, security and economic design," and he named the 1inch Router and Fusion among products he led2. The exit from daily operations left his ownership intact, by his own account: he said he remained a co-founder and 50% shareholder in the company, and he announced a new venture, Second Tier, built around "secure and efficient financial infrastructure".
Before and after at 1inch
1inch framed the exit as routine for the protocol. “This does not affect the operation of 1inch Network or any associated organizations,” the company wrote, adding that “the protocols, infrastructure, and all core systems continue to operate as normal”1. The statement named who stayed: “1inch co-founder Sergej Kunz and the existing executive leadership team continue to contribute to the 1inch Network, and the strategy and roadmap remain unchanged”. AMBCrypto placed the announcement against a separate backdrop. 1inch had disclosed two security incidents earlier: a $5 million Fusion V1 resolver exploit in March 2025, and a resolver private-key breach in December 20242. Evidence tying either incident to Bukov's departure stayed absent from the record, AMBCrypto reported.
What to watch
Second Tier is the fact to track next. Bukov said the project would build "secure and efficient financial infrastructure," according to AMBCrypto, which gives a concrete product to measure against his 1inch record2. The other open point is Bukov's 50% shareholder claim. Both sources left it standing beside 1inch's own account of who runs the company today1.
Sources
- 1inch, post confirming Anton Bukov's departure, X, July 16, 2026, https://x.com/1inch/status/2077765613187924439
- Adewale Olarinde, "1inch confirms Anton Bukov's departure after co-founder says he was fired," AMBCrypto, July 16, 2026, https://ambcrypto.com/1inch-confirms-anton-bukovs-departure-after-co-founder-says-he-was-fired/