Bittensor Co-Founder Ala Shaabana Stepped Aside Amid Network Criticism

Ala Shaabana, co-founder and chief operating officer of Bittensor, stepped aside from his executive role on February 13, 2026. This move coincided with CEO Jacob Steeves' departure as well.

The price of TAO surged after the announcement, closing at 318.15 on September 25, a 104.37% increase from its last close before the news.

However, this growth did not hold in a straight line. TAO's price fluctuated, peaking above twice its pre-announcement level on March 24 but then falling to 187.43 by July 27.

The recovery began in September, with TAO gaining 27.15% across the seven daily bars from September 18, including a 7.44% increase on September 25.