Movement Labs Terminates Co-Founder, Announces New Leadership

Movement Labs, a prominent Web3 company and core contributor to the Movement Network, has recently undergone significant leadership changes. The company announced the termination of its co-founder, Rushi Manche, amidst a broader overhaul of its governance structure and leadership. This decision comes after a series of events, including governance issues, the delisting of the MOVE token from Coinbase, and increased market scrutiny.

The departure of Manche was officially confirmed by Movement Labs on their platform, citing ongoing events as the primary reason behind the decision. This move has sparked discussions within the industry about the future direction of the company and its ecosystem. The termination of Manche's partnership was announced on May 7, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the company's history.

In addition to the termination of Manche, Movement Labs has also seen other significant leadership changes. Co-founder Cooper Scanlon has voluntarily stepped down, passing the torch to Torab Torabi, who will now lead the newly formed Move Industries as CEO. Torabi, a founding member of Move Industries, brings a wealth of experience and a clear vision for the company's future. Will Gaines will serve as President and Chief Marketing Officer, while Young Yang Liauw will continue to oversee engineering. Liauw's extensive blockchain engineering expertise, gained from his roles at Aptos, Novi, and Meta, will be instrumental in driving the company's technological advancements.

Move Industries has been established to ensure a more simplified and focused operational structure. The new company is committed to maintaining Movement's position as a leading Move-based blockchain ecosystem. Its three core pillars are Community/Brand, Engineering/Product, and Ecosystem/Business Development. The new endeavor will operate with enhanced accountability measures, providing a stronger foundation for the Movement ecosystem's future growth and success.

Torabi emphasized the importance of this transition, stating, "Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Movement. We are putting in place the structures needed for our company to thrive, which includes a full commitment to our ecosystem builders and community. They are at the heart of everything we do. Our team remains heads down, improving chain performance, increasing economic activity on-chain, and supporting the incredible projects being built on the Movement Network. We will continue full steam ahead to fulfill our promises."

Scanlon, reflecting on his tenure, said, "It has been an incredible journey bringing the Movement vision to life and I'm immensely proud of what we've built together. Torab has been instrumental to Movement's development from the beginning, and I have complete confidence in his leadership abilities and vision for the future. I will continue to support the Movement and advocate as the team writes this next chapter."

Move Industries will operate under improved governance, including expanded board oversight and transparent decision-making processes. Gaines highlighted the company's return to its founding principles, stating, "The Movement community has stood with us through both triumph and challenge. With Move Industries, we're returning to our founding principles: self-sovereignty, creativity, and systems that serve people. This next chapter will ensure we continue building world-class infrastructure, world-class businesses and a world-class movement."

The termination of Manche and the formation of Move Industries signal a new era for the Movement Network. The company's commitment to enhanced governance and a community-first approach is expected to strengthen its position in the blockchain ecosystem. As Move Industries moves forward, it will focus on improving chain performance, increasing economic activity on-chain, and supporting the projects built on the Movement Network. The company's leadership changes and strategic initiatives are aimed at ensuring a prosperous future for the Movement ecosystem.