"King of Pump Calls" Arthur Hayes Strikes Again, This Time Targeting Deribit
On June 29, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes purchased approximately 6.16 million SYN tokens via OTC platform Flowdesk for around $2.2 million. Hayes subsequently declared on X that SYN represents one of the most asymmetric investments he has seen since HYPE, stating it's time for an options DEX to challenge the dominant platform Deribit, and identifying Hypercall as that challenger.
SYN's price surged over 40% following his comments, with a tenfold increase in June 2026 alone, bringing its FDV to roughly $110 million. The article details Synapse Protocol's evolution from a cross-chain messaging and liquidity network into the chain-based options trading protocol Hypercall. Hypercall, built on the Hyperliquid ecosystem's HyperEVM, aims to be a universal options exchange supporting any asset size with capped loss (limited to premium paid) and no forced liquidations.
Deribit, established in 2016, remains the centralized leader in crypto options with an estimated 85% market share in BTC and ETH options and $3.588 billion in assets. Its strengths include deep liquidity and professional tools, but it faces criticisms over custody risk, KYC requirements, and regulatory uncertainty.
The analysis positions Hypercall not as an immediate replacement for Deribit's entrenched network effects, but as a potential complementary and differentiated competitor, particularly for DeFi-native assets and new asset classes like RWA. The article concludes by noting Hayes's recent mixed "call" record, including fully exiting and later re-buying HYPE, and the controversial price target for CARDS from his family office Maelstrom, which was followed by a significant price drop.
marsbit06/29 06:25
