’Runaway Bot’ Triggers $98 HYPE Token Spike on Lighter DEX Amid Liquidity Debate
A trading anomaly on decentralized exchange Lighter saw Hyperliquid's HYPE token briefly surge to $98 before crashing back to $47 within minutes. The incident, attributed to a "runaway bot" exploiting thin order book liquidity, sparked immediate controversy when exchange operators removed the price wick from front-end displays.
On-chain data confirms one trader captured $600,000 in profits during the volatile event. The episode highlights persistent vulnerabilities in decentralized trading platforms, where algorithmic actors can disproportionately impact illiquid markets. Lighter's team acknowledged the bot's activity jammed orders through the HYPE book, but claimed no liquidations occurred beyond the artificial price spike.