Hyperliquid’s HYPE Hits Record High Above $50 on Trading Boom, Token Buybacks

Trading boom

The decentralized exchange recorded more than $357 billion in derivatives volume in August, according to DefiLlama data, up from $319 billion in July and nearly ten times higher than a year ago. Spot trading volumes also set a record, surpassing $3 billion for the week ending Aug. 24, Blockworks data shows.

These flows translated into a windfall for the protocol. Hyperliquid booked $105 million in trading fees during August, the highest this year, per DefiLlama data.

Hyperliquid monthly protocol fees and perpetuals trading volume (DefiLlama)

Much of those earnings are funneled directly into purchasing HYPE on the market through Hyperliquid’s Assistance Fund. The facility is an automated on-chain mechanism that buys back tokens on the open market, creating sustained buy pressure for HYPE and effectively reducing the circulating supply.

Since its launch in January, the fund’s holdings ballooned from 3 million tokens to 29.8 million HYPE, now worth over $1.5 billion, fueling the token’s rally.

On the news front, digital asset custodian BitGo added support on Tuesday for the HyperEVM network, which underpins the Hyperliquid ecosystem, unlocking institutional access to HYPE and related applications.

Analysts flag risks amid strong fundamentals

In a recent research note, ByteTree analysts Shehriyar Ali and Charlie Morris described Hyperliquid as a “powerhouse” that has become the largest decentralized perpetual futures venue.

“All things considered, HyperLiquid is among the most compelling protocols in DeFi today,” they wrote. “Its strong fundamentals, record-breaking fee generation and dominant market share make it impossible to ignore.”

Despite the bullish fundamentals, the report also flagged concerns about the token’s valuation. HYPE currently trades at a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of over $50 billion, with only about third of supply in circulation with a 16.8 billion market capitalization.

Scheduled token unlocks starting in November could also introduce selling pressure, potentially testing the strength of demand, the report noted.

“Although the token has already seen a sharp run-up in recent months, its robust on-chain activity continues to underpin its valuation,” the analysts said.

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