DeFi Protocol Balancer Cuts Budget, Slashes Headcount Ahead of Strategy Pivot

The protocol’s service providers have let go of two front-end engineers as they focus on overhauling the platform’s brand. 

AccessTimeIconApr 14, 2023 at 1:57 a.m. UTC
Updated May 9, 2023 at 4:12 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Decentralized finance (DeFi) liquidity protocol Balancer’s service providers revealed they are slashing their operating budgets and laying off staff in a move to overhaul Balancer’s brand strategy during a Thursday community call.

Balancer’s OpCo, which manages the protocol’s front end, has laid off two engineers and reduced its operating budget, the providers’ team revealed during the Discord call attended by more than 20 people. The headcount reduction comes as the protocol turns its focus toward improving its user interface and marketing. To that end, the platform’s service provider, Orb Collective, which directs the protocol’s design, marketing and regulatory strategies, will build out a specialized marketing team that can discuss the mechanics of how Balancer works with the platform’s users. The new outreach strategy will also feature a “crypto Twitter-native voice.”

  • How NEAR Enables Multichain Access From One Account
    00:56
    How NEAR Enables Multichain Access From One Account
  • DeFi Market Rebounds to $50B as Speculators Hunt for Yield
    01:11
    DeFi Market Rebounds to $50B as Speculators Hunt for Yield
  • How Spool Is Aiming to Help Institutions Enter DeFi
    11:05
    How Spool Is Aiming to Help Institutions Enter DeFi
  • How a New Tax Proposal From the IRS Could Impact DeFi
    00:46
    How a New Tax Proposal From the IRS Could Impact DeFi
  • “We developed a new vision for the Balancer brand that we're very excited about, said Jeremy Musighi, CEO of Orb Collective. “Along with that, we have been making some changes to the marketing team personnel to make sure that we have the right people in place to execute this new vision.”

    The news comes as the protocol also faces broader market pressure.

    Last month, Balancer’s team revealed the protocol had exposure to the Euler Finance exploit, losing $11.9 million worth of tokens from its liquidity pools during the hack. Months earlier, the protocol also experienced a read-only reentrancy bug disclosure, which deactivated protocol fees for a significant number of the protocol’s pools, causing the platform to miss out on revenue opportunities when cryptocurrency markets were heating up in January.

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

    Elizabeth Napolitano

    Elizabeth Napolitano was a news reporter at CoinDesk.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.