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CryptoUpdated×2•Originally published 16 April 2026•Updated 17 April 2026•

1 min read

Yuga Labs Appoints Michael Figge as CEO in Leadership Restructuring

A dramatic image showing a red downward trend line, a cracked cube with a Bitcoin symbol, and 'SYSTEM FAILURE -99%'. Debris, circuit boards, and broken crypto coins are scattered.

Key Facts

1Yuga Labs, the creator of Bored Ape Yacht Club, has appointed Michael Figge as its new CEO.

2Co-founder Greg Solano is transitioning to the role of chairman.

about 2 months ago

Version History

Version 2about 2 months ago

What changed: Added historical context regarding the 2022 lawsuit, details on the 'parody' defense, and the avoidance of a full trial through settlement.

Version 1about 2 months ago

What changed: The story was updated to include Yuga Labs' settlement of a major trademark infringement lawsuit with Ryder Ripps, alongside the executive leadership changes.

Yuga Labs has appointed Michael Figge as its new CEO, a move coinciding with the settlement of a legal battle that began in June 2022 against artist Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen. The lawsuit accused the pair of copying Bored Ape Yacht Club images and selling them as lookalike NFTs, while the defendants argued the (RR/BAYC) tokens were a parody of the brand. This settlement successfully avoids a full trial, ending a significant dispute over intellectual property rights. The leadership transition sees co-founder Greg Solano move to the role of Chairman, while Figge, the former Chief Product Officer (CPO), takes over executive operations. These strategic shifts aim to stabilize the company and refocus on growth within the NFT ecosystem as market participants monitor the impact on the APE token.