Mary-Catherine Lader Departs Uniswap Labs After Four-Year Tenure as President and COO
Mary-Catherine Lader has stepped down from her role as President and Chief Operating Officer of Uniswap Labs after four years at the helm of one of the most prominent firms in decentralized finance.
Lader announced her departure via social media on Tuesday, writing: “Personal news: after four incredible years as President & COO of @Uniswap, I’m starting something new.” She reflected on her transition into crypto from traditional finance, crediting her early experience at BlackRock and her journey with Uniswap founder Hayden Adams as pivotal in her career.
Since joining Uniswap Labs in 2021, Lader has been instrumental in scaling the company’s operations and product offerings. Her leadership helped usher in major initiatives, including the development of the Uniswap mobile wallet, cross-chain integration, and broader engagement with institutional stakeholders. Her tenure also coincided with rising regulatory attention on the crypto sector.
In 2024, Uniswap Labs received a Wells Notice from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, suggesting potential violations related to operating as an unregistered exchange and broker. The company also reached a $175,000 settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission concerning frontend access to leveraged tokens. These events placed Uniswap at the center of the broader regulatory debate over decentralized protocols.
Despite the challenges, Uniswap remains a dominant force in DeFi, with more than $5.3 billion in total value locked. The platform continues to benefit from a shift in regulatory tone under the current U.S. administration, including pro-crypto legislative proposals such as the GENIUS Act and a growing push for digital asset innovation.
Uniswap Labs has not yet named a successor. Lader’s exit marks the conclusion of a key chapter for the company, characterized by both expansion and resilience amid market and policy headwinds.
Her next venture has not been disclosed, though her impact on Web3’s evolution is widely recognized.
