Share this article
Co-CEO of Crypto Trading Firm Alameda Research Sam Trabucco Steps Down
Trabucco will stay on as an adviser, while Caroline Ellison will become the company’s sole CEO.
By Nelson Wang
Updated May 11, 2023, 5:43 p.m. Published Aug 24, 2022, 7:37 p.m.
Sam Trabucco, the co-CEO of crypto trading firm Alameda Research, is stepping down from his leadership role and becoming an adviser, Trabucco tweeted Wednesday. Like crypto exchange giant FTX, Alameda was started by Sam Bankman-Fried, and the company operates a vast network of trading, yield farming, startup investments and market making.
- Fellow co-CEO Caroline Ellison will remain as the company’s sole CEO, Trabucco wrote.
- Trabucco said in a tweet thread that he had significantly reduced his role at Alameda over the past few months, noting he reached a point in life where had to “prioritize other things” such as his personal life. “I needed to relax,” he added, and I’m really, really happy.”
- Trabucco said he doesn't currently have any other crypto projects lined up, "but I wouldn't rule anything out in the future once I feel more 'recovered.'"
- Bankman-Fried initially ceded leadership of Alameda to Trabucco and Ellison in October. The two both had pre-crypto ties to Bankman-Fried, who started Alameda in 2017 to exploit crypto arbitrage opportunities. He hired Ellison, who worked with him at Jane Street, in 2018, and Trabucco, a Susquehanna bond trader and friend from MIT, a year later.
- FTX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
UPDATE (Aug. 24 19:43 UTC): Added background on Alameda and an additional quote from Trabucco.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Tom Lee urges BitMine shareholders to approve share increase ahead of January 14 vote
The chairman of the former bitcoin miner-turned-ether treasury firm reiterated his view that Ethereum is the future of finance.
What to know:
- Tom Lee, chairman of Bitmine Immersion (BMNR), urged shareholders to approve an increase in the company's authorized share count from 500 million to 50 billion.
- Lee assured shareholders that the increase is not intended to dilute shares, but instead to enable capital raising, dealmaking, and future share splits.
- Shareholders have until January 14 to vote on the proposal, with the annual meeting scheduled for January 15 in Las Vegas.
Top Stories
