While CEXs Are Still Competing on Experience, Hyperliquid Is Already Trading Precious Metals and Forex

marsbitPublished on 2026-01-28Last updated on 2026-01-28

Abstract

While centralized exchanges (CEXs) are still competing on user experience, Hyperliquid has expanded into trading precious metals and foreign exchange. The platform is shifting its narrative from being a user-friendly decentralized exchange (DEX) to becoming a crypto-native, on-chain Nasdaq through its HIP-3 protocol, offering synthetic assets like oil, forex, and metals. This move reflects a broader industry trend where on-chain liquidity is beginning to integrate with real-world assets, offering tighter spreads, faster execution, and 24/7 availability. Hyperliquid is also introducing new market rules such as full transparency, permissionless listings, and fee redistribution, using code-based trust to challenge the opaque advantages of CEXs and traditional finance.

Author: Haotian

While mainstream assets are collectively stagnant, $HYPE has managed to chart an independent strong bullish candle, which is indeed thought-provoking. Many are asking why the Perp DEX sector has been quiet lately, but the performance of @HyperliquidX actually provides the answer:

1) The narrative ceiling has changed. The old story of Perp DEXs approaching CEX-level experience is no longer compelling. It seems Hyperliquid is breaking away from the internal competition of being a "user-friendly DEX" and is breaking through to a full range of synthetic assets via the HIP-3 protocol.

It's shifting from the positioning of a DEX good enough to take down CEXs to a narrative of becoming the most crypto-native Nasdaq on-chain. Moving from pure crypto speculation to seamless trading of crude oil, forex, and precious metals—this directly elevates the vision;

2) The "backflow" of on-chain liquidity into real-world assets. Just look at how exchanges like Bitget, OKX, and Bybit are all building platforms and pushing the narrative of "asset tokenization"—it's clear that the growth ceiling for pure crypto assets has been reached.

Don't doubt it: when you find that the spread for trading silver on-chain is narrower than on CEXs, the response is faster than brokers, and it operates 24/7 without closing, it is no longer just a DEX but transforms into an all-weather global asset routing hub. This is an inevitable result of on-chain liquidity starting to backflow into the real world. Whoever hoists this banner first will be the winner;

3) A dimensional shift in rules. In the past, Perp DEXs were humbly imitating and trying to接近 CEX experience, but Hyperliquid has clearly elevated the game. The new rule logic is: absolute on-chain transparency, permissionless listing, fee rebate mechanisms, and other emerging market rules.

Ultimately, it uses code trust to dismantle the black-box advantages of CEXs and TradFi. Interestingly, decentralization isn’t even mentioned.

Related Questions

QWhat is the core narrative shift that Hyperliquid is undergoing according to the article?

AHyperliquid is shifting from being a 'user-friendly DEX' focused on competing with CEXs in crypto perpetual trading to becoming a 'Crypto Native Nasdaq on-chain' narrative, expanding into synthetic assets like crude oil, forex, and precious metals.

QHow does Hyperliquid's HIP-3 protocol contribute to its new direction?

AThe HIP-3 protocol enables Hyperliquid to offer a wide range of synthetic assets, allowing seamless trading of commodities like crude oil, forex, and precious metals, thus moving beyond pure crypto assets.

QWhat advantage does Hyperliquid have over traditional CEXs and TradFi in trading assets like silver?

AHyperliquid offers narrower spreads, faster response times, 24/7 non-stop trading, and greater transparency with on-chain trust, eliminating the black-box advantages of CEXs and TradFi.

QWhy are major exchanges like Bitget, OKX, and Bybit exploring 'asset tokenization' narratives?

AThey recognize the growth bottleneck of pure crypto assets and are seeking to leverage chain liquidity to tokenize real-world assets, following the trend of on-chain liquidity 'reverse irrigating' into实体 assets.

QWhat key rules does Hyperliquid use to differentiate itself from traditional CEXs?

AHyperliquid emphasizes on-chain absolute transparency, permissionless listing of new assets, fee rebate mechanisms, and using code-based trust to eliminate the black-box advantages of CEXs and TradFi, without explicitly focusing on decentralization.

Related Reads

Must-Watch Events Next Week|CLARITY Act Could Face Senate Vote; SpaceX, Circle to Report Earnings (8.3-8.9)

**Summary: Key Events and Developments to Watch (August 3-9)** The upcoming week is marked by significant financial disclosures, key legislative deadlines, and notable product updates. **Major Financial Events:** Several companies are scheduled to release their Q2 2026 earnings. American Bitcoin (ABTC) will report on August 3, followed by SpaceX and Hut 8 Mining Corp. on August 4, and Circle on August 5. Notably, a significant portion of SpaceX shares (up to 12% of total shares) will be unlocked on August 6 following their earnings release. **Key Legislative Deadline:** The U.S. Senate faces an August 7 deadline to secure 60 votes for the CLARITY Act, a bipartisan bill aiming to establish a federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. The Senate may hold a full vote on the bill during the week. **Economic Data:** The U.S. July Non-Farm Payrolls report will be released on August 7, providing crucial labor market data. **Technology & Product Updates:** * **Shutdowns:** DeFi portfolio tracker Zapper and wallet app Ctrl Wallet will cease operations on August 3. * **Upgrades:** LayerZero will deprecate its v1 relayers on August 3. XRP Ledger's new version 3.3.0, featuring five new functions, is expected next week. * **AI:** Elon Musk announced that the advanced Grok 4.6 AI model is set for release around August 7. * **Bitcoin:** The BIP-110 forced signaling for a potential Bitcoin network change is scheduled to begin around August 8. **Other Notable Events:** Chinese robotics firm Unitree Tech has set its preliminary price inquiry for its IPO for August 5. South Korean exchange Upbit will delist AQT and AERGO tokens on August 3.

marsbit48m ago

Must-Watch Events Next Week|CLARITY Act Could Face Senate Vote; SpaceX, Circle to Report Earnings (8.3-8.9)

marsbit48m ago

Stocks Are Plummeting More Sharply Than Cryptocurrencies. Where Has the Money Gone?

Stock Markets Plunge Deeper Than Cryptocurrencies: Where Did the Money Go? In late July, Seoul's Kospi index triggered circuit breakers for two consecutive days, plummeting over 40% from its June high. The collapse was led by heavyweight stocks like SK Hynix, whose record profits still disappointed investors, and devastating leveraged ETFs, with one major product losing over 83% of its value. This signaled a global, forced deleveraging targeting the most crowded trades. Interestingly, while stocks exhibited extreme volatility akin to crypto markets, Bitcoin rose nearly 15% in July after a prior steep drop. Analysis shows the money fleeing equities did not flow into Bitcoin. Instead, Bitcoin had already absorbed its sell-off in May-June, when U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw historic outflows. The true safe-haven beneficiary was gold, whose price rose over 20% year-on-year, highlighting a decoupling between Bitcoin and gold as "digital gold." The sell-off was a targeted unwinding of leveraged positions in tech and semiconductors, accelerated by broker-dealer risk management and shifts in the AI narrative, including new competition from Chinese memory chipmakers. The retreat path was clear: from high-valuation tech stocks to cash and U.S. Treasuries, then to gold. For Bitcoin to attract sustained institutional inflows, conditions like eased global liquidity pressure, a "soft-landing" Fed rate cut, and U.S. regulatory clarity via legislation like the stalled CLARITY Act are needed. Currently, Bitcoin is not a safe haven but an already-cleared asset. Its low correlation with tech stocks, however, makes it a potential diversification play for institutional portfolios once the storm passes. The money isn't here yet, but the positioning is underway.

marsbit48m ago

Stocks Are Plummeting More Sharply Than Cryptocurrencies. Where Has the Money Gone?

marsbit48m ago

In Conversation with Ray Dalio: We Are Currently in an AI Bubble, with 1% of My Portfolio in Bitcoin

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, warns in an interview that the current AI boom shows classic bubble characteristics, which could lead to significant economic downturns as seen in past cycles like 1929 or 2000. He explains that speculative enthusiasm, fueled by debt and overvaluation, often precedes a crash when rising rates or taxation force asset sales, causing widespread losses and recession. Dalio also outlines his "Big Cycle" theory, describing an approximate 80-year pattern where widening wealth gaps, massive government deficits, and shifting geopolitical power (like China's rise) create internal conflict and global instability. He emphasizes that we are in a late-cycle, transitional phase where traditional powers like the US and UK face decline. For personal wealth protection, Dalio advises diversification beyond cash into assets like stocks, bonds, real estate, and particularly gold, which he prefers over Bitcoin. While he holds about 1% of his portfolio in Bitcoin as a non-printable hard asset, he views gold as more secure from technological or governmental threats. Regarding AI's impact, Dalio believes it will disproportionately benefit capital owners, worsening inequality by replacing both physical and cognitive labor. He suggests that human intuition and emotional intelligence, combined with AI, will be key for future workers. On taxation, Dalio argues that wealth taxes are impractical and risk triggering asset sell-offs, reducing productive investment. He points to the UK as a cautionary example of debt, low productivity, and political strife. Geopolitically, Dalio foresees a more regionalized world, with the US showing weakness in prolonged conflicts like with Iran, akin to past imperial declines. The ideal outcome, he suggests, is coexisting powerful blocs (e.g., Americas, China-Asia Pacific) without major war.

marsbit4h ago

In Conversation with Ray Dalio: We Are Currently in an AI Bubble, with 1% of My Portfolio in Bitcoin

marsbit4h ago

Daily 7.2 Trillion KRW: Foreign Capital's Record Net Buying on Friday! Wall Street Says Headwinds for Korean Stock Fund Flows Have Subsided

South Korean stock market sees a dramatic shift in fund flows. On July 31, foreign investors made a record net purchase of approximately KRW 7.2 trillion in KOSPI stocks, marking a fundamental reversal from the persistent large-scale net outflows seen in previous months. This contributed to a significant narrowing of foreign net selling in July to KRW 9.8 trillion, down sharply from KRW 48.4 trillion in June and KRW 44.5 trillion in May. Simultaneously, domestic institutional pressure eased. South Korean pension funds and asset managers turned to a net buying position in July, purchasing KRW 1.0 trillion worth of KOSPI shares, contrasting with net sales in May and June. Market volatility is expected to be dampened by new financial regulations. Effective July 31, the Financial Services Commission tightened access for retail investors to single-stock leveraged ETFs by raising the minimum cash deposit requirement. Trading volumes for these products subsequently dropped to about 50% of their monthly average. Citigroup Research maintains its year-end KOSPI target of 10,000 points. The firm cites several supportive factors: the substantial easing of headwinds from capital outflows, a robust fundamental outlook for the semiconductor sector, historically low market valuations, strong economic fundamentals, and the potential for policy support from financial authorities if needed.

marsbit4h ago

Daily 7.2 Trillion KRW: Foreign Capital's Record Net Buying on Friday! Wall Street Says Headwinds for Korean Stock Fund Flows Have Subsided

marsbit4h ago

Trading

Spot
活动图片