December 2024 marked a pivotal point for the HYPE token, as significant whale movements within the Hyperliquid ecosystem began directing the token’s price trajectory and liquidity. Large stakeholders chose a methodical approach of gradual accumulation and staking, which cultivated a stable market growth rather than driving volatility. This strategy not only swayed price behavior but also had reverberating effects on the protocol’s total value locked (TVL) and overall revenue streams.
How Did Whales Tackle Token Accumulation?
In early December 2024, a notable whale initiated regular spot acquisitions, each fetching around 20,849 HYPE tokens. Purchases started at $7.91, progressing between $8.10 and $8.69, which swiftly expanded their holdings surpassing 250,000 HYPE. A critical facet of this strategy was minimizing slippage and effectively leveraging the liquidity present in the market.
The purchasing pattern underscored deliberate transactions involving both decentralized and centralized exchanges, signaling long-term planning rather than impulsiveness. Similar strategies were deployed by other whale wallets during this timeframe, indicating a preference for strategic positioning over immediate profit-making. As more liquid supply was locked into staking, exchange balances decreased, alleviating potential downward pressure on prices.
What Promoted the Rise in TVL and Fee Revenues?
The year 2025 saw a robust increase in Hyperliquid’s TVL, climbing from around $2 billion to close to $6 billion by summer’s conclusion, driven not by transient capital but substantial trading volume and constant fee generation. Daily fees often ranged from $3 million to $10 million, reflecting persistent user engagement. TVL stabilized in the $4-5 billion range by year’s end, demonstrating liquidity stability.
In January 2026, an investor captured attention by moving approximately 665,000 HYPE to Bybit, netting a $7.04 million profit. This investor, who had earlier acquired HYPE at an average of $11.50, had opted for staking which offered an annual yield of about 2.3%, enhancing their total balance incrementally. With a brief lock period and a seven-day unstaking queue, this exit was evidently strategic.
Simultaneously, reports indicated whales from the dYdX ecosystem were also divesting from staking-centric positions, transferring judiciously to centralized platforms, marking a shift in behaviors across derivative DEX markets.
Key takeaways from these developments include:
- Whales consistently employed strategic, tiered acquisition strategies.
- TVL growth was primarily sustained by strong trading volumes, unlike temporary capital influx.
- Fee revenues remained consistent, reflecting active protocol utilization.
- Staking rewards played a crucial role in profit strategies for large holders.
Amid these complex market maneuvers, the insights into whale strategies and their far-reaching impacts paint a compelling picture of how methodical approaches can shape token dynamics beyond the typical speculative lenses.
“Our approach has always been about ensuring sustainable growth without succumbing to market whims,” stated a prominent HYPE investor.
