Hyperliquid Defies Market Rout After Ripple Tie-up, Despite Waning Sentiment
Hyperliquid’s HYPE token has outperformed major cryptocurrencies, rising 41.5% over the past two weeks while others declined. Analysts credit this rally to the project’s practical utility and sharply reduced token unlocks rather than market speculation. Key factors include a new institutional partnership with Ripple, which integrated Hyperliquid into its Ripple Prime platform—its first direct DeFi integration—enabling institutional access to onchain derivatives. Additionally, Hyperliquid drastically cut its February token unlock to 140,000, versus 1.2 million in January, removing about $34 million in potential monthly sell pressure. Robust growth in Hyperliquid’s derivatives offerings, including the launch of non-crypto markets and upcoming upgrades like HIP-4 for prediction markets and USDH trading, further support the strong demand for HYPE. Despite bullish fundamentals and institutional momentum, retail optimism is subdued, with prediction markets reflecting increased caution regarding near-term price gains. Analysts see this as a shift toward tokens with real-world utility, as weaker projects lose traction.
