Mary-Catherine Lader announced her departure after four transformative years.
Uniswap total value locked steadies above $5.5B as DeFi sector matures.
UNI has gained 12% the past twelve months to trade at $9.04.
Uniswap Labs’ president and chief operating officer, Mary Catherine Lader, took it to X to confirm his departure after spending four years with the DeFi platform.
Personal news: after four incredible years as President & COO of @Uniswap, I’m starting something new.
This is a new chapter for crypto. We’ve come a long way since I started digital assets at BlackRock in 2015, and building with @haydenzadams was an awesome adventure.
I’m…
— Mary-Catherine Lader (@Mclader) July 15, 2025
While she remains as an advisor as the project prepares for a successor, attention has shifted to how Uniswap has fared since Lader joined in 2021.
A new chapter for Uniswap
Lader leaves after four years of shaping Uniswap into a household name within the blockchain sector.
Her departure means crucial transitions into the blockchain’s leadership and strategic direction.
Lader joined the Uniswap team in 2021 after his role as BlackRock’s managing director.
She was among the executives who left traditional finance to explore the cryptocurrency industry.
The COO has monitored key operations, including Uniswap’s extension to several blockchains and the Uniswap mobile wallet launch.
Also, Lader oversaw the termination of the Securities and Exchange Commission case.
Most importantly, she was the president during the Uniswap v4 rollout.
She helped transform Uniswap from a developer-centric project into a massive blockchain organization, overseeing internal developments across human resources, customer support, finance, and regulation.
Thus, the Uniswap team will likely feel Larder’s absence as the COO.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has appreciated her leadership at Uniswap Labs, while some industry players urge Lader to join their projects.
Congrats!! Appreciate your leadership at Uniswap over the years.
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) July 16, 2025
Meanwhile, the transition signals a strategic decision not influenced by the network’s instability.
While leadership changes aren’t uncommon in traditional companies as teams evolve, such shifts are somewhat rare in crypto, especially among early team members and founders.
That’s why Mary’s departure attracted attention.
However, she is leaving with excitement, which bodes well for Uniswap’s future as a DeFi giant.
The development confirms a maturing industry.
Early builders and founders can now move on with new challenges or launch new projects, similar to traditional setups.
Unswap has displayed stability under Lader
The blockchain’s total value locked has soared from $1.64 billion in December 2020 to $5.54 billion today.
Also, the native coin UNI has performed relatively well. It has gained 12% on its yearly chart, showcasing resilience despite macro challenges.
The platform boasts over $75 billion in monthly DEX volume, according to DeFiLlama.
UNI trades at $9.04 after gaining 17% and 14% in the past month and week.
Technical indicators highlight bullish presence.
The 1D Moving Average Convergence Divergence displays green histograms above the signal line.
Also, the daily chart’s Relative Strength Index at 65 suggests further gains before overbought conditions.
Moreover, the Chaikin Money Flow has climbed steadily since July 4.
That confirms money entering the UNI ecosystem as investors anticipate substantial rallies.
These signals match the prevailing broad market sentiments.
Analysts forecast impending altcoin rallies as Bitcoin dominance cools after BTC’s latest rally to $123K.