Yuga Labs, the venture-capital-backed startup renowned for creating the Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks NFT collections, has initiated a substantial restructuring process.
The process includes an undisclosed number of layoffs primarily impacting the US-based teams, although the firm will continue to retain over 120 employees post-restructuring. This announcement was shared with the staff through an email from CEO Daniel Alegre, who transitioned into the role roughly six months ago following a tenure as the President and Chief Operations Officer at Activision Blizzard.
Alegre underscored the challenging global economic backdrop, emphasizing the need to streamline focus on Yuga Labs’ core strengths. This move aims to ensure the continuous delivery of unique and engaging experiences for the brand’s growing audience. While the restructuring currently targets US-based teams, an active review regarding the international teams’ impact is underway.
Today we announced a restructuring at Yuga Labs that will help us better serve our communities and execute on our vision for the company. These decisions are not taken lightly as they impact people and roles within the company.
— Daniel Alegre (@dalegre) October 6, 2023
Please see details here: https://t.co/xip04CSSOQ
Yuga Labs Strategic Pivot Towards Otherside
Central to this restructuring is Yuga Labs’ strategic pivot towards the development of Otherside, its gamified metaverse platform. This shift encompasses a myriad of digital initiatives ranging from gaming and entertainment experiences to interactive social engagements, all orchestrated under Eric Reid and his team. The company has announced that regular development updates concerning Otherside will commence in the upcoming weeks. This pivot not only aligns with the burgeoning metaverse trend but also encapsulates Yuga Labs’ innovative essence in blending blockchain technology with interactive digital experiences.
In addition to restructuring and metaverse development, Yuga Labs is on a quest to forge long-term industry-leading partnerships. These partnerships are envisioned to be instrumental in realizing Yuga Labs’ lofty mission of fostering a unique culture on the blockchain, further intertwining the realms of digital art, ownership, and community engagement.
Valuation Reflects Yuga Labs’ Stature
Even amidst the restructuring phase, Yuga Labs’ valuation stands at an impressive $4 billion, mirroring its substantial stature within the NFT and broader cryptocurrency sector. This valuation not only underscores the firm’s successful ventures in the NFT space but also heralds its potential as it veers towards metaverse development and other blockchain-centric endeavours.
The restructuring comes at a juncture of changing market dynamics within the NFT realm, mirroring a broader trend observed across numerous Web3 firms. As Yuga Labs realigns its strategic compass amidst these evolving market conditions, the crypto community will be keenly watching how this pivot augments Yuga Labs’ trajectory in the bustling blockchain universe.
