Unswap's President has resigned after four years of service - What's in store for UNI in the future?
**Uniswap Labs Experiences Leadership Transition as Mary-Catherine Lader Steps Down**
In a significant development, Mary-Catherine Lader, the President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Uniswap Labs, has announced her departure from the company after a four-year tenure [1][2][3]. Lader played a pivotal role in transforming Uniswap from a small developer-centric project into a leading decentralized finance (DeFi) platform, with monthly trading volume exceeding $73 billion [4].
**Current Leadership Status**
As of July 19, 2025, Uniswap Labs has not announced a replacement for Lader’s roles as President and COO [1][3]. The company is currently in the process of navigating this leadership transition, with no credible public rumors or leaks identifying a specific successor at this time [1].
**Potential Candidates**
If Uniswap opts for an internal hire, potential candidates may include current senior leaders such as Chad DePue (VP of Engineering), Will Ruben (VP of Product), Teo Leibowitz (Ventures Lead and former Chief of Staff), and Padmini Pyapali (Director of Engineering) [1]. Alternatively, the company might look externally for a seasoned DeFi professional or another traditional finance executive, as they did when hiring Lader from BlackRock [1].
**Current Leadership Structure**
During this transition period, Hayden Adams, the founder and CEO of Uniswap, remains at the helm, but the President/COO position is vacant [3]. Lader has transitioned to an advisory role during this period, but her executive responsibilities have not been reassigned to a named individual [2][3].
**Looking Ahead**
Updates on the appointment are expected in the coming weeks as Uniswap navigates this significant leadership transition [1]. The company's resilience is evident in its market performance and user activity, which appear to be regaining strength despite the recent leadership changes and regulatory scrutiny [5].
**Key Takeaways**
- **Mary-Catherine Lader has resigned as President and COO of Uniswap Labs, with no immediate successor named** [1][2][3]. - **The leadership position remains vacant**; the company is likely in the process of vetting internal and external candidates [1]. - **Hayden Adams continues as CEO**, but the senior executive team is currently without a President/COO [3]. - **Updates on the appointment are expected in the coming weeks** as Uniswap navigates this significant leadership transition [1]. - Mary-Catherine Lader remains in an advisory capacity during the transition.
[1] CoinDesk (2025). Uniswap's Mary-Catherine Lader Steps Down as President and COO. [online] Available at: [2] Decrypt (2025). Mary-Catherine Lader Steps Down as President and COO of Uniswap Labs. [online] Available at:
- The departure of Mary-Catherine Lader, the former President and COO of Uniswap Labs, has left an empty seat in the executive team of one of the leading cryptocurrency businesses in the DeFi sector, known for its high trading volume on Ethereum and other crypto exchanges.
- Instead of a direct replacement, Uniswap Labs is currently assessing both internal and external candidates for the open position, with potential candidates likely being current senior leaders or seasoned DeFi professionals or finance executives.
- In the meantime, the founder and CEO of Uniswap, Hayden Adams, remains at the helm, and Mary-Catherine Lader has shifted to an advisory role, while the President/COO position remains vacant.
- As the business continues to face regulatory scrutiny and seek to regain its former strength after the leadership transition, updates on the appointment are expected in the coming weeks.
- Meanwhile, the Ethereum-based token UNI, native to the Uniswap platform, is showing signs of recovery, as the technology and finance business adapts to the latest changes in its leadership.
