Behind the Coinbase Acquisition of USDH: Hyperliquid’s Interest-Driven Choice

Odaily星球日报Published on 2026-05-15Last updated on 2026-05-15

Abstract

The article discusses the transition of the Hyperliquid ecosystem's native stablecoin, USDH, following its acquisition by Coinbase. Last September, USDH, issued by Native Markets, was a focal point in the ecosystem. Recently, Coinbase announced it will become the official USDC treasury deployer on Hyperliquid. Native Markets granted Coinbase the rights to purchase the USDH brand assets, leading to the gradual phase-out of USDH. Users can convert USDH to USDC or fiat without fees during this period. USDC is now Hyperliquid's official stablecoin. The move is framed as a three-way win: * **Coinbase & Circle:** Deepen ties with Hyperliquid's on-chain economy. Both companies are staking HYPE tokens. Circle had already invested in HYPE previously. * **Hyperliquid:** Becomes the primary beneficiary, set to receive the vast majority (estimated ~90%) of the reserve yield income from the ~$5.16 billion in USDC on its platform. This could translate to significant daily HYPE buybacks. The alliance with Coinbase may also offer regulatory advantages in the US. * **Native Markets:** While exiting the stablecoin business, the team reportedly received economic compensation from Coinbase for the USDH brand assets, framing it as a successful conclusion to USDH's role. However, the article notes criticism from some Hyperliquid community members. They view the shift as a step back for decentralization and argue that the original USDH issuer vote was driven by internal interests rather th...

Original|Odaily Planet Daily(@OdailyChina)

Author|Wenser(@wenser 2010)

In September of last year, the battle over the Hyperliquid native stablecoin USDH once became a focal point in the industry; now, this once highly anticipated stablecoin has suddenly welcomed its own "exit moment."

Last night, Coinbase announced it would become the official treasury deployer for USDC on Hyperliquid, while Native Markets, the issuer of the Hyperliquid native stablecoin USDH, granted Coinbase the right to purchase USDH brand assets. Subsequently, the USDH market will be gradually phased out, during which users can still convert USDH to USDC or fiat currency without transaction fees.

From this point on, the once-famous USDH has become an asset absorbed by Coinbase, while USDC is officially established as the official stablecoin and quote asset of Hyperliquid. Odaily Planet Daily will briefly analyze the details and subsequent impacts of this event in this article.

USDH Exits, USDC Rises: The Economic Calculations Behind $50 Billion

This grand play of the "Hyperliquid Ecosystem Stablecoin Battle" ultimately concluded with a win-win-win outcome for the three parties: Coinbase & Circle, Hyperliquid, and Native Markets, the USDH issuer.

Coinbase further deepened its integration with the Hyperliquid ecosystem through this move; Hyperliquid secured the majority of the revenue from USDC stablecoin reserves within its ecosystem; Native Markets, as the ultimate beneficiary of USDH, received its reward in the form of "selling the USDH brand assets."

Coinbase & Circle: Binding to Hyperliquid's On-Chain Economy, Continuously Increasing Investment in HYPE

Currently, the scale of USDC on Hyperliquid is approximately $5.164 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2 times.

As the official partner and revenue-sharing party for USDC, Coinbase's action undoubtedly aims to deeply integrate with the Hyperliquid ecosystem.

Additionally, according to official Hyperliquid announcement information, both Coinbase (funds deployer) and Circle (responsible for CCTP and native cross-chain infrastructure technical deployment) have committed to staking HYPE to activate AQAv2 (Aligned Quote Asset v2).

It is worth mentioning that in September last year, Circle had already purchased HYPE tokens, and its current HYPE token staking scale has increased to around 500,000.

Hyperliquid: Secures the Lion's Share of USDC Reserve Revenue, Enjoys the Convenience of Being a Coinbase Ally

As for the biggest winner of this cooperation, it is undoubtedly Hyperliquid as the foundational ecosystem.

According to the official announcement, Coinbase will subsequently share the majority (vast majority) of reserve revenue income with the Hyperliquid protocol. Although the specific split ratio has not been disclosed, if based on the previous USDH revenue-sharing mechanism, Hyperliquid will actually receive approximately 90% of the reserve revenue.

According to calculations by Hyperliquid community members, based on a scale of $4.7 billion and a 3.8% interest income rate, this revenue corresponds to approximately $160 million; in other words, it corresponds to a daily HYPE token buyback of about $440,000.

Furthermore, with the CLARITY Act passing the vote in the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, the deep integration between Hyperliquid and Coinbase also means that HYPE and Hyperliquid have gained a certain level of support in terms of U.S. regulation.

Native Markets: USDH's Historical Mission Accomplished

As the issuer of the Hyperliquid native stablecoin USDH, Native Markets might seem like the biggest loser in this "absorption event," but judging from its official statement, its ending can also be considered a "successful retirement."

On one hand, USDH provided a model and template for the revenue sharing of USDC between Coinbase and the Hyperliquid protocol; on the other hand, Coinbase likely directly acquired the USDH-related brand assets. The USDH stablecoin issued by the Native Markets team was essentially "acquired by Coinbase," thus providing the team with a certain economic return.

Subsequently, Native Markets also stated it would remain independent and seek developments in other areas.

After USDH's Exit, In a Win-Win-Win Situation, Only USDH Users Get Hurt

Of course, Native Markets' exit has not been met with universal "praise." Hyperliquid community users have also expressed disapproval of its so-called "sitting at the negotiation table" narrative.

Some believe that the exit of USDH signifies a complete regression of the decentralization era;

Others point out that during the original USDH stablecoin issuer vote, Paxos should have been chosen, as they at least considered users and stablecoin growth. Those who voted for Native Markets were merely aligning with factions and internal interests. Ultimately, users gained nothing. These remarks have garnered considerable agreement and support.

Thus, the drama from a year ago, filled with "dominant pursuit," "resistance against giants," has finally come to an end.

However, looking back now at the scene of Hyperliquid "shaking hands and making peace" with Coinbase and Circle is somewhat poignant and slightly ironic.

In the end, everything was merely about the distribution of interests, not the once-loudly proclaimed slogans of "for the community" or "for Hyperliquid."

Recommended Reading

Hyperliquid Stablecoin USDH Becomes the "Industry's Favorite," Giants Trigger Chaotic Battle for Distribution Rights

USDH Vote in Progress: "Prearranged Script," "Dominant Pursuit," "Stepping Down Bravely" Take Turns on Stage

Related Questions

QWhat major announcement did Coinbase make regarding Hyperliquid, and what does it mean for USDH?

ACoinbase announced it will become the official USDC treasury deployer on Hyperliquid. Additionally, USDH issuer Native Markets granted Coinbase the right to purchase the USDH brand assets. This means the USDH market will gradually be shut down, and USDH will effectively be 'acquired' by Coinbase, while USDC is established as Hyperliquid's official stablecoin and quote asset.

QAccording to the article, why is Hyperliquid considered the biggest winner in this arrangement?

AHyperliquid is considered the biggest winner because it will receive the vast majority (estimated around 90%) of the revenue generated from the USDC reserves on its platform. This represents significant, ongoing income. Furthermore, the deep partnership with Coinbase provides regulatory support and convenience for the Hyperliquid ecosystem in the US market.

QWhat benefit does the article state that Coinbase and Circle gain from this partnership with Hyperliquid?

ACoinbase and Circle gain a deeper economic and strategic bond with the Hyperliquid ecosystem. Coinbase strengthens its role as a major stablecoin infrastructure provider. Both companies have also committed to staking HYPE tokens to support the platform's AQAv2 (Aligned Quote Asset) mechanism, with Circle having already increased its HYPE stake significantly.

QHow is the outcome for Native Markets, the issuer of USDH, described in the article?

AThe outcome for Native Markets is described as achieving a 'graceful exit' or 'mission accomplished.' While they are stepping away from USDH, they are reportedly receiving financial compensation from Coinbase for the sale of the USDH brand assets. The team will remain independent to pursue other ventures, having paved the way for the USDC revenue-sharing model.

QWhat is one of the main criticisms from the Hyperliquid community regarding the shutdown of USDH?

AOne major criticism from the community is that the shutdown of USDH represents a step back for decentralization. Some users also expressed disappointment, arguing that the initial vote for the USDH issuer was driven by internal interests and 'bandwagoning' rather than choosing an issuer (like Paxos) that would prioritize users and the stablecoin's growth, leaving end-users with nothing.

Related Reads

7 Months After the Collapse of Huiwang, Southeast Asia's Escrow Platforms Undergo a Major Reshuffle

Following the collapse of Huione Pay—dubbed the "Alipay of Southeast Asia"—seven months ago, the region's underground financial guarantee platform sector is undergoing a significant reshuffle. This power vacuum has been swiftly filled by emerging platforms such as XinBi, Tiger/Navigator, JinBei (renamed JinBo), Dali/Tiancheng, and FullyLight. These platforms, operating largely via Telegram and offering services like escrow for illicit transactions, have absorbed the vast user base and markets left behind by Huione. While positioning themselves as "trust intermediaries," their primary clientele consists of networks involved in online scams, money laundering, illegal gambling, and even human trafficking. For instance, the Tiger/Navigator platform explicitly provides "escrow" services for kidnapping-for-ransom operations ("强押车交易"). Data underscores the immense scale: Huione alone processed over $103 billion in cryptocurrency payments and facilitated over $31 billion through its escrow market before its downfall, linking it to Cambodia's notorious Prince Group. Since its collapse, competitors have seen explosive growth. For example, the XinBi platform has accumulated over $1.6 billion in total USDT revenue, while platforms like NewPay, OkPay (under Dali), and FullyLight Wallet collectively processed over $4.8 billion in USDT in a single year. This ecosystem thrives in regions like Cambodia and Myanmar, where regulatory gaps allow these platforms to act as critical financial infrastructure for sprawling cybercrime industries, from scam compounds to online casinos. The article concludes that the moniker "Southeast Asian Alipay" is a misnomer, obscuring the platforms' fundamental role in enabling serious criminal enterprises rather than representing legitimate financial innovation.

Odaily星球日报18m ago

7 Months After the Collapse of Huiwang, Southeast Asia's Escrow Platforms Undergo a Major Reshuffle

Odaily星球日报18m ago

The Changing Landscape: What Are Crypto VCs Experiencing?

Title: The Shifting Landscape of Crypto Venture Capital The era of dedicated crypto venture capital funds is undergoing a significant transformation. Once essential for navigating the sector's complexity and high risk, these specialized funds are now facing an identity crisis as the market matures. This shift mirrors historical patterns in other specialized investment classes like cleantech and SPACs, where initial information advantages dissipate as technologies become mainstream and integrated into existing industry frameworks. The article argues that crypto is reaching a critical inflection point, transitioning from a "building phase" to an "integration phase." Major players like Stripe, BlackRock, and Visa now engage with crypto not for its novel mechanics but as a foundational financial infrastructure. Their needs—regulatory compliance, banking partnerships, distribution channels—align with traditional fintech, a domain easily understood by large, generalist funds like Sequoia and Founders Fund. This evolution creates a "barbell effect" within the VC landscape. On one end are massive, diversified platforms that can incorporate crypto as one vertical among many. On the other are small, nimble funds focused on niche, experimental projects. The middle ground—medium-sized dedicated crypto funds—is being squeezed out. Their typical fund size makes it impossible to generate sufficient returns solely from early-stage crypto bets, yet they cannot compete with giants for later-stage deals. Consequently, leading crypto-native firms like Paradigm and Framework Ventures are expanding into AI, robotics, and other sectors, driven partly by LP pressure for better returns amid a broader VC DPI crisis. Others, like Dragonfly and a16z, have narrowed their crypto focus predominantly to financial infrastructure like stablecoins, reframing the sector's core narrative. For crypto entrepreneurs, this consolidation presents challenges. While generalist funds offer larger checks and broader resources, crypto projects now compete fiercely with AI for attention and capital within these firms. Furthermore, the long-term, non-commercial foundational work that built the ecosystem—funded by dedicated crypto VCs—is less likely to attract generalist capital focused on direct returns. The conclusion is that "crypto investor" as a standalone category is becoming obsolete, akin to "internet investor." Crypto is becoming a baseline infrastructure layer. The future will see a barbell structure: large-scale growth financing handled by generalist funds, while pioneering, speculative projects are funded by small, specialized vehicles. The dedicated crypto funds of the 2017-2021 boom, which incubated core infrastructure, are giving way to this new, bifurcated reality.

Foresight News36m ago

The Changing Landscape: What Are Crypto VCs Experiencing?

Foresight News36m ago

As Consensus Accelerates, What Are Young Investors Betting On?

Title: As Consensus Forms Faster, What Are Young Investors Betting On? In the rapid evolution of tech investment, a new generation of young investors is navigating a landscape where AI, robotics, commercial aerospace, and quantum computing are advancing simultaneously. Traditional investment logic based on financial models is giving way to a need for deep technical understanding and the ability to act before industry consensus forms. An analysis of trends from the "WAIC FUTURE TECH" list of young investment leaders reveals key shifts in focus. The first major trend is the movement of AI from the digital screen into the physical world. Investment is shifting from large language models and chatbots towards embodied AI, robotics, AI hardware, and edge computing. While demonstrations generate excitement, the real challenge lies in achieving scalable, reliable, and cost-effective delivery in complex real-world environments like factories and logistics. Success depends not just on algorithms but on the integration of sensors, actuators, and control systems. Second, the competitive focus for large models is moving beyond raw capability toward building an "intelligence flywheel." The goal is to create self-reinforcing systems where user interaction generates data, improving the model, which in turn enhances the user experience and attracts more engagement. Companies that successfully embed AI into workflows to create these closed-loop systems can build lasting value that isn't easily erased by the next model upgrade. Third, facing a potential bottleneck in high-quality human-generated data, investors are looking at new underlying technologies. Reinforcement learning and self-play, as demonstrated by AlphaGo Zero, offer paths for AI to generate its own experience. Scientific foundation models, which aim to build general AI capabilities for fields like life sciences and materials discovery, represent a non-consensus direction that could unlock new frontiers of knowledge and data. Finally, in deep-tech areas like quantum computing, commercial aerospace, and space-based infrastructure, patient capital is essential. These fields have long, uncertain development and validation cycles involving complex engineering, supply chains, and regulations. Investment here requires a long-term view, focusing on foundational team capabilities and the eventual emergence of market demand, even if commercial returns are distant. Collectively, these trends illustrate how young investors are adapting to a new era. They are learning to make earlier, technically-informed judgments, balance hype with real-world viability, and provide the patient capital needed to build the deep-tech foundations of the future.

marsbit1h ago

As Consensus Accelerates, What Are Young Investors Betting On?

marsbit1h ago

Trading

Spot
活动图片