Luigi D’Onorio DeMeo Resigns as Ava Labs CSO

DeMeo joined Ava Labs in early 2021, not long after the Avalanche mainnet went live. At that time, the team was just 20 people strong. He initially worked on DeFi and developer relations before moving into leadership roles like COO and CSO. His work focused on strategy, operations, and institutional growth.

His Contributions to Avalanche

During his tenure, DeMeo played a key role in scaling Avalanche. He highlighted several achievements, including the rollout of network upgrades, onboarding global banks, launching over 80 chains, and expanding Avalanche’s presence in gaming and institutional ecosystems. In his message, he thanked Avalanche’s co-founders and expressed deep appreciation for the team and community, calling Avalanche a defining part of his career.

Why He Stepped Down

DeMeo cited personal reasons for leaving. He wants to focus on his growing family, especially his six-month-old child. He also mentioned the need to recharge after years in the high-pressure crypto space. While he is stepping away from operations, he will remain involved in the Avalanche Foundation in a non-executive capacity until his term ends in a few months. He has not announced a new role and appears to be taking a break before deciding what’s next.

Community Response: Sadness and Gratitude

The announcement received a wave of support and gratitude from the Avalanche community. Within 24 hours, the post had over 82,000 views, hundreds of replies, and strong emotional responses. Colleagues and builders described him as a mentor, leader, and friend. Phrases like “huge loss,” “legendary run,” and “you’ll be very missed” appeared frequently across replies.

Although most reactions were positive, a few users expressed concern. Some tied his exit to broader issues at Ava Labs, including team departures and AVAX’s recent price dip. A small number of replies accused the project of using high-profile exits as “exit liquidity,” though these were clearly in the minority.

Overall, the reaction was overwhelmingly appreciative. Avalanche contributors credited DeMeo with helping shape the network’s growth during a critical period.

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