Hayes Cashes Out $5.1M HYPE Stake Just Weeks After Bold 126x Price Prediction
Crypto heavyweight Arthur Hayes executes massive HYPE liquidation mere weeks after touting the token's explosive potential—timing that's either impeccably strategic or remarkably convenient.
The 126x Call That Preceded the Dump
Hayes' original prediction sent shockwaves through crypto circles, positioning HYPE as the next moonshot candidate. His analysis pointed to unprecedented growth metrics and ecosystem developments that supposedly justified the astronomical target.
The $5.1 Million Reality Check
Market watchers observed the substantial position unwind with mixed reactions—some praising the profit-taking discipline, others questioning the sincerity of the original endorsement. The move demonstrates once again that in crypto, the only prediction that truly matters is when the big players decide to exit.
Timing or Telling?
Whether this represents savvy portfolio management or another case of 'pump-and-dump' theater remains open to interpretation—but it certainly reinforces why traditional finance veterans still view crypto markets as the wild west of asset management.
Hayes Confirms Sale After Bullish Forecast
Arthur Hayes sold 96,628 HYPE tokens for about $5.1 million, according to on-chain data from Lookonchain. He made an estimated profit of $823,000, or around 19.2% above his entry price. This transaction occurred shortly after he claimed the token could see a 126x rise.
Hayes had shared this bullish outlook during a speech at the WebX Asia conference, where he pointed to Hyperliquid’s rising decentralized exchange revenues and stablecoin plans. Just weeks later, his complete exit has raised questions about the timing and motivations behind the sale.
In a post confirming the sale, Hayes said, “Gotta pay the deposit for the Ferrari Testarossa somehow.” The comment quickly spread on social media, drawing criticism and surprise from parts of the crypto community.
Market Reacts as HYPE Falls Below Support
HYPE dropped 8.3% in the 24 hours following the sale, according to CoinMarketCap. The token fell below its support range of $52–$53, and it is now trading around $49.9. This decline marked a pause in its recent upward trend, which had seen the token rise over 1,200% since late 2024.
Technical indicators support the bearish move. The MACD shows bearish divergence, and the RSI has moved closer to oversold territory. Analysts say high selling volume could result in a short relief rally, but broader price recovery depends on renewed buyer interest.
The price drop came even as the Hyperliquid ecosystem continued to grow. Native Markets was recently selected to manage the rollout of the USDH stablecoin after a community vote. Despite these developments, price sentiment appears to be weakening in the short term.
Token Supply Concerns Cited as Exit Reason
In his explanation for the sale, Hayes cited research from Maelstrom that outlines major supply pressures for HYPE. According to the report, 237.8 million tokens are set to vest linearly over the next 24 months, which equals nearly $500 million in monthly supply.
The research adds that current buybacks can only absorb about 17% of the upcoming tokens. This WOULD leave more than $410 million of excess supply every month, creating a strong possibility of continued selling pressure.
Hayes said the market has not yet priced in this incoming supply and that it influenced his decision to exit the position. These tokenomics concerns are now being discussed more widely among investors.
Previous Portfolio Moves Raise Eyebrows
This is not the first time Arthur Hayes has sold assets after making positive public predictions. As reported earlier by CoinGape, Hayes previously sold over $13 million worth of crypto, including ETH, PEPE, and ENA, even as he forecast a bullish altseason.
Some traders noted that he had been one of the most vocal supporters of HYPE. His quick exit is now being seen by some as a strategic portfolio rotation, possibly into newer projects. Crypto analyst Yoshitaka suggested Hayes might be moving into ASTER, a new token that launched three days before the HYPE sale.
The quick turnaround between his bullish forecast and the sale has sparked debate around transparency and investor expectations, especially for figures with large public platforms.
