Phantom Intensifies Focus on Perpetual Futures by Hiring Hyperliquid Developers

Finance Phantom Intensifies Focus on Perpetual Futures by Hiring Hyperliquid Developers

The crypto wallet is enhancing its commitment to perpetual futures following the recruitment of key developers from one of Hyperliquid's notable market initiatives.

By Krisztian Sandor|Edited by Stephen Alpher Jun 30, 2026, 9:00 p.m. 2 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on

Phantom CEO Brandon Millman. (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk))

• Phantom has brought on the team behind Ventuals, which recently ceased its OpenAI and Anthropic perpetual futures markets on Hyperliquid.
• This recruitment is part of Phantom's strategy to enhance its involvement in perpetuals and market openings as wallets transition into trading platforms, according to CEO Millman.
• Perpetual futures have rapidly become one of the most popular products in crypto, expanding into traditional financial markets.

The team noted for its significant contributions to Hyperliquid's private trading projects is now part of Phantom.

The crypto wallet announced on Tuesday the hiring of Alvin Hsia, Emily Hsia, and Aris Samad, who were behind Ventuals, the project that recently terminated its OpenAI and Anthropic perpetual futures markets.

According to Phantom CEO Brandon Millman, the trio will integrate into the company's trading and data teams.

This development follows Ventuals' announcement earlier this month regarding its winding down and shift to another initiative within the Hyperliquid ecosystem, concluding one of the exchange's more notable experiments in trading private company valuations on the blockchain.

Perpetual futures have transitioned from a crypto-centric innovation to a key product within the industry. These derivatives enable investors to speculate on future price trends without an expiration date, allowing them to hold the contract indefinitely. Their continuous trading, substantial liquidity, and capability to track nearly any asset have made them a favored choice for diverse activities, from cryptocurrency speculation to investments in private firms and commodities.

This trend is also extending beyond the crypto realm. Recently, Kalshi, a prediction market operator, launched its own perpetual futures offering following regulatory approval, joining exchanges that anticipate a growing role for always-available derivatives in financial markets.

For Phantom, these hires signify a broader initiative to delve deeper into trading.

Recognized as one of the leading self-custody wallets in the crypto space, Phantom has progressively expanded its services beyond mere asset storage to include swaps, staking, and derivatives, as wallets increasingly strive to evolve into comprehensive financial applications rather than just basic interfaces for token management.

The company has stated that it is now the largest distribution partner within the Hyperliquid ecosystem and is intent on intensifying its focus on perpetual futures.

Millman remarked, "Open markets have become a major focus for us. We've gone deep on perps, and we intend to go deeper."

He highlighted Hyperliquid as "one of the best examples anywhere of what open markets make possible," citing its global liquidity and transparent on-chain infrastructure.

According to Millman, incorporating the Ventuals team will accelerate Phantom's efforts to create trading products within the ecosystem.