NEW YORK, Wednesday, June 19, 2024- Uniswap Labs, the developers behind the leading decentralized exchange protocol Uniswap, announced the appointment of Katherine Minarik as chief legal officer on June 10th, 2024. Minarik joins Uniswap Labs after serving as a vice president and associate general counsel at cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.1
The financial terms of the appointment were not disclosed. Uniswap Labs co-founder Hayden Adams previously held the position of chief legal officer. He will remain with the company in a strategic advisory role.
In her Post on X Platform Katherine Minarik said:
“It is impossible to spend time in crypto and not be inspired by the potential of DeFi to change the world. So I am humbled to be taking on this new role at Uniswap Labs, continuing another part of the fight for economic inclusion and the future of finance for all of us. 3/x
I’m grateful that the one-in-a-million @ammori trusts me to follow in his footsteps and build on the incredible, foundational work he’s done for DeFi and our entire industry for years.
I am also so grateful to @haydenzadams and @Mclader for giving me this opportunity to do even more work that I love, to defend and advocate for our industry, and to help build a future we cannot yet even imagine.”
Minarik brings a wealth of experience in the blockchain industry to her new role. At Coinbase, she played a key role in navigating the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding digital assets. Her expertise will be crucial as Uniswap Labs continues to grow and navigate potential regulatory scrutiny.
The appointment coincides with increased regulatory uncertainty within the cryptocurrency space. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has signaled a more aggressive approach to crypto regulation, and Uniswap Labs has faced questions about the potential classification of its tokens.
Minarik’s arrival suggests a proactive approach by Uniswap Labs to address these challenges.
Her experience in working within a regulated exchange environment is seen as valuable as the company is going through interactions with regulatory bodies.
