a16z Invests Heavily with $356 Million in HYPE, Surpassing Paradigm to Become the Largest External Holder
On May 21st, HYPE surged past $59, reaching a new high since September 2025, with a market cap nearing $150 billion. Analysts attribute the rally to a short squeeze and significant ETF inflows. The launch of two U.S. spot ETFs for Hyperliquid has driven substantial capital, with their inflows at times surpassing those of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.
Major institutions are actively accumulating HYPE. Venture firm a16z has become the largest external holder with a $356 million position, surpassing Paradigm. Other firms like Goldman Sachs, Grayscale, and Galaxy Digital have also made large purchases, with Goldman reportedly selling portions of its XRP, ETH, and BTC holdings to buy HYPE.
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan calls HYPE one of the most "mispriced" assets, arguing its valuation should reflect Hyperliquid's broader platform beyond just a perpetual DEX token. The protocol generates substantial real revenue, using 97% of fees to buy back and burn HYPE. Its expansion into RWA commodities and prediction markets has driven user growth and transaction volume, now commanding about 70% of the on-chain perpetual DEX market.
However, this rapid growth faces challenges. Traditional exchanges CME and ICE are pressuring the CFTC to regulate Hyperliquid, citing concerns over its impact on global commodity benchmarks. Concurrently, some major market makers have withdrawn significant liquidity from the platform.
With HYPE up over 125% year-to-date, operational risks are rising. Large holders are reportedly hedging with sizable short positions. The regulatory outlook from the CFTC remains a key uncertainty, adding another layer to the ongoing battle over the future of on-chain finance.
链捕手05/21 11:08
