Hyper Foundation Deploys $29 Million HYPE Token War Chest to Launch Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
Hyperliquid's political gambit just landed on K Street.
The Hyper Foundation is making a direct play for regulatory influence, allocating a staggering $29 million worth of its native HYPE tokens to establish a physical lobbying and policy hub in the nation's capital. This isn't just another industry association—it's a funded beachhead aimed at shaping the legislative conversation from the inside.
Building a Seat at the Table
Forget sending emails to congressional staffers. The move signals a strategic shift from reactive defense to proactive engagement. By planting its flag in Washington, D.C., the foundation aims to translate complex protocol mechanics into digestible policy frameworks, advocating for laws that don't treat decentralized tech like a traditional bank—because it isn't one.
The $29 Million Question
That token allocation isn't for office furniture. It's a war chest designed to fund research, sponsor think-tank reports, and support advocacy efforts that align with Hyperliquid's vision of a fluid, on-chain financial system. In a town where influence is a currency, they're paying in-kind.
A New Front in the Crypto Policy Wars
This establishes a direct channel to lawmakers, bypassing the often-slow consensus of broader crypto coalitions. The goal? To craft smart regulation that protects users without stifling the permissionless innovation that defines DeFi—a tall order in a political climate still wrestling with basic definitions.
Because sometimes, to change the rules of the game, you first have to buy a chair in the committee room. After all, in Washington, a well-funded 'education' campaign has a way of making even the most radical ideas sound reasonable—just ask any legacy bank lobbyist.
The Hyper Foundation commits almost $30 million to DeFi policy push
The Hyper Foundation has announced that it has committed 1 million HYPE tokens to fund the creation of the Hyperliquid Policy Center (HPC). Based on the current market price, this grant is worth nearly $30 million. The tokens are set to be unstaked later today.
The Hyperliquid Policy Center is an independent research and advocacy nonprofit that ensures that decentralized finance, or DeFi, has a clear and legal path to grow in the USA.
Jake Chervinsky will come on board as the founding CEO of the organization. Chervinsky is a well-known figure in the crypto legal world who previously served as the Chief Legal Officer at the venture firm Variant and held a senior leadership role at the Blockchain Association.
Last month, Hyperliquid processed over $256 billion in perpetual futures volume, but despite its massive growth, many of the products offered by the company, such as perpetual derivatives, currently operate offshore because U.S. financial laws were written for traditional, centralized systems.
Hyperliquid believes its community needs direct representation in Washington to protect its interests and explain how decentralized markets actually work.
HYPE is currently trading at approximately $29.16, down significantly from its peak of $59.39 in late 2025.
In collaboration with Policy Counsel Brad Bourque, formerly of the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and Policy Director Salah Ghazzal, who was previously the policy lead at Variant, the company hopes to provide expert support and technical research that will lead to the creation and implementation of modern rules.
The center is also actively hiring for several high-level roles, including a Chief of Staff, a Head of Communications, and a Head of Government Relations.
How can the HPC impact DeFi regulation?
To better establish a legal framework for on-chain perpetual contracts and properly close the gap between how these products are used globally and how they are viewed by U.S. regulators like the SEC and CFTC, the center will publish research that explains why decentralized protocols are different from traditional exchanges and how they can be regulated without destroying their unique benefits.
In 2025, crypto policy progressed significantly with the GENIUS Act, which focused on stablecoin regulation, becoming law in July. The CLARITY Act has stalled in Congress after months of significant progress. The HPC aims to build on this momentum to ensure that DeFi-specific issues are addressed.
Other groups, like the Blockchain Association, are making efforts to work with the current administration and Congress.
Former CFTC Commissioner Summer Mersinger took over as The Blockchain Association’s CEO. The company held a major policy summit in December 2025, which saw record attendance from both industry leaders and bipartisan members of Congress. They have been focused on challenging restrictive IRS reporting rules and pushing for a comprehensive market structure bill.
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