Key facts
- Arthur Hayes has been appointed CEO of Flop Labs.
- Flop Labs is developing an AI inference protocol.
- The company plans a significant airdrop in Q4 2026.
- The network is scheduled to launch its genesis block in early 2027.
- Hayes previously co-founded cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX.
BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes has announced his return to the crypto space as the new CEO of Flop Labs, an AI inference protocol. Hayes revealed his new role via an X post, stating he is coming out of retirement to lead the company. Flop Labs is developing a network where AI agents will utilize the protocol's native Flop (FLOP) token to pay for computing power and decentralized memory services.
Hayes also teased a substantial airdrop scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, preceding the network's planned genesis block launch in early 2027. Further details regarding the airdrop are expected to be released at a later date. Hayes, who co-founded BitMEX in 2014 and stepped down as CEO in 2020, has updated his X profile to reflect his current position at Flop Labs.