Yuga Labs Leadership Shift: Solano Returns, BAYC Gets Independence

Big reshuffle at Yuga Labs—Greg Solano is back in the driver’s seat as CEO, replacing Activision Blizzard veteran Daniel Alegre who only lasted 11 months in the role.

What changed:

• Solano takes over from Alegre (who replaced Nicole Muniz last year—yes, third CEO in ~2 years)
• The move signals a pivot toward Solano’s original vision for the company
• BAYC is getting spun into its own subsidiary, BAYC LLC, with its own autonomous operations—essentially “unshackling” the NFT flagship from Yuga’s broader structure

The strategy: Solano’s making moves to streamline operations by letting BAYC run independently while ramping up resources for Otherside, positioning it as the central hub for Web3 communities. The team is actively recruiting to fill key BAYC roles.

Context: Last October’s layoffs cut Yuga down to 120+ employees under Alegre’s restructuring. Now Solano’s trying a different angle—focus, separation, and community-first positioning.

Real talk: Three CEOs in two years suggests internal turbulence, but spinning out BAYC as its own entity could actually work if Solano’s serious about giving the brand room to breathe while Otherside becomes the connective tissue.