Hyperliquid Foundation launches a $29 million initiative to lobby for DeFi interests in Washington, D.C., through the new Hyperliquid Policy Center.
The Hyperliquid Foundation has unveiled the Hyperliquid Policy Center, a new initiative designed to advocate for decentralized finance (DeFi) interests in the U.S.
The foundation will allocate 1 million HYPE tokens, valued at about $29 million, to fund the center's establishment, with tokens set to be unstaked later today. This initiative aims to enhance the representation of the Hyperliquid community in Washington, D.C.
— Hyperliquid (@HyperliquidX) February 18, 2026
Under the guidance of Jake Chervinsky, who has a background as the legal head at Variant Fund and serves on the Blockchain Association board, the center is expected to significantly influence the regulatory landscape for DeFi.
The Hyperliquid team intends to connect lawmakers with their platform, addressing the discrepancies between current legal frameworks and innovative market infrastructures.
The Policy Center has committed to tackling key regulatory challenges within the derivatives and DeFi sectors. It plans to publish technical research, provide insights on proposed regulations, and act as a resource for policymakers seeking to understand DeFi.
Market Reaction and Hyperliquid Performance
Despite the announcement, the HYPE token saw a 3.7% decrease in price, trading around $29 at the time of reporting. The decentralized exchange continues to lead its market segment with open interest surpassing $5 billion, significantly outpacing its nearest competitor, Aster, which has $1.7 billion.
In terms of trading volume, Hyperliquid remains the top platform among perpetual DEXs, recording $5.4 billion in volume over the last 24 hours and a total of $256.3 billion for the month. The recent launch of user markets HIP-3 has contributed to this resurgence, with daily trading volume reaching $5.2 billion earlier in February, boosted by a precious metals market rally.
Additionally, Hyperliquid developers have endorsed the HIP-4 proposal, aimed at establishing prediction markets on the platform.
