Second Tier rising: 1inch co-founder says he got the boot, then launched his own thing 🪜

Anton Bukov, co-founder of decentralized exchange aggregator 1inch, said he has fully exited the company's operations after more than seven years and is launching a new project called Second Tier. Bukov disclosed the departure in a Thursday post on X, stating he had been "fired" from 1inch in November 2025 after "push[ing] for change" in the company's management and operations.

1inch issued its own statement on X disputing parts of Bukov's account, saying the co-founder "had not been actively involved in any associated organizations" related to the project since December 2025. The firm added that Bukov "is not disrupting, will not disrupt, 1inch Network's infrastructure or systems," with co-founder Sergej Kunz, who remains in charge at 1inch, reiterating that point in his own Thursday post.

Bukov clarified the terms of his split, saying: "I no longer take part in the company's operations. And, most importantly, I have no role in its product architecture or its security, and no oversight of either." He also said he will remain a 50% co-owner of 1inch even as he steps away from day-to-day work.

The two sides had previously released contradictory online statements regarding Bukov's role since 2025, according to Bukov. Bukov co-founded 1inch in May 2019 alongside Kunz, a developer who continues to lead the firm.

Additional details about Second Tier, including its product scope and timeline, were not immediately disclosed in Bukov's announcement.