Bored Ape Mastermind Returns: Garga Takes Back Yuga Labs CEO Seat

After just 10 months, Daniel Alegre (ex-Activision Blizzard COO) is stepping down as Yuga Labs CEO, and co-founder Greg Solano—better known as “Garga”—is reclaiming the top spot.

What Changed?

Solano’s messaging is crystal clear: crypto-native first. This is a sharp pivot from the more traditional corporate approach Alegre brought to the table. The new strategy includes:

• BAYC Gets Its Own Spin-off: A dedicated “BAYC LLC” subsidiary to give the flagship Bored Ape Yacht Club more autonomy and faster decision-making
• Otherside as Web3’s Living Room: Positioning it as the central hub for the ecosystem, with transparency and community co-creation at the forefront. The “Apes Come Home” event (Feb 29) marks the shift
• Gaming + Blockchain: Balancing mainstream appeal with actual crypto utility—think Dookey Dash, Farawaygg partnerships

The Real Story

This feels less like a CEO failure and more like a strategic reset. Solano’s saying: we hired a COO-type to bring structure, now we’re cranking back to what makes crypto communities tick—autonomy, transparency, community ownership. BAYC’s cultural moment (ApeFest, Made by Apes) shows the IP still has legs when managed right.

Bottom line: Expect faster iteration, more community votes, and a return to the vibe that made BAYC a phenomenon in the first place. The corporate era is over; the crypto-native era begins.