Blockworks, the crypto data and research firm, has seen at least seven staff members announce their departures in recent weeks as the company prioritizes product development, particularly AI-related tools. The announcements, shared via social media posts spanning late October through November 6, 2026, primarily involve research and related roles. The situation remains fluid, with no formal company-wide statement detailing the full scope or reasons beyond the observed strategic pivot.
Named individuals include senior research analyst Jake Koch-Gallup, research analysts Nick Carpinito and Kunal Doshi, senior protocol strategist Silvio Busonero, founding research team member Westie, along with Nikhil and AJC. Several described the period as their final week at the firm. On November 3, Blockworks opened its MCP (Model Context Protocol) service to the public, allowing users to connect company data to AI clients such as Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor, with new accounts receiving $100 in credits. The company also published the final edition of its 0xResearch newsletter around the same time.
The Drivers of the Current Situation
The departures coincide with Blockworks’ explicit shift toward product development and AI integration. The firm has expanded tools that make its datasets—enhanced by the June 2026 acquisition of Messari—accessible to AI agents and external builders. The MCP launch represents a key step in positioning Blockworks data for agentic workflows and automated analysis rather than traditional research output alone.
One departing analyst, Jake Koch-Gallup, publicly linked the exits to this change, stating it was “sad to see a leading crypto research company shift its focus away from research.” He acknowledged the logic of prioritizing products but argued that independent research remains especially valuable as AI increases the importance of original human analysis. Other posts focused more on personal reflections and appreciation for time at the company without detailing motives. The timing of multiple announcements close together amplified visibility of the personnel changes.
Impact and Broader Context
The moves highlight a broader tension in crypto research and data firms between producing independent analysis and scaling commercial AI-enabled products. Blockworks’ emphasis on MCP, Unified API, and related tools aims to embed its data deeper into AI ecosystems, potentially expanding reach and recurring revenue. At the same time, the loss of experienced research talent raises questions about the depth and continuity of traditional research coverage, newsletters, and protocol analysis.
For the wider industry, the episode underscores how AI capabilities are reshaping media and data businesses: firms may reallocate resources from human-led research toward infrastructure that serves both human users and automated agents. Observers will watch whether Blockworks maintains or adjusts its research output, how remaining staff and any new hires fill gaps, and whether the product focus delivers measurable growth. Market and community reaction has centered on the value of independent research versus scalable data products in an AI-heavy environment.
The full extent of personnel changes, any additional departures, and the precise balance between research and product going forward remain subject to further company communications and operational decisions. Conditions continue to evolve with the firm’s product roadmap.
This analysis draws on contemporaneous social-media announcements, coverage from crypto.news and related outlets dated November 6–7, 2026, and Blockworks’ own product updates regarding MCP and prior Messari acquisition. The company’s strategic direction and staffing levels remain subject to ongoing internal priorities.