Hyperliquid Funds $29M Lobby Group to Shape US Crypto and DeFi Laws

TLDR

• Hyperliquid has launched the Hyperliquid Policy Center, a Washington, DC advocacy group focused on DeFi regulation
• The center is funded by 1 million HYPE tokens (~$29 million) from the Hyper Foundation
• Jake Chervinsky, former Blockchain Association policy chief, is founder and CEO
• The group will focus on perpetual derivatives and blockchain financial infrastructure policy
• It launches as Congress debates crypto market structure bills that remain stalled in the Senate

Crypto platform Hyperliquid has launched a policy advocacy group in Washington, DC, focused on shaping US rules for decentralized finance.

The Hyperliquid Policy Center was announced on Wednesday, February 18. It is funded by 1 million HYPE tokens from the Hyper Foundation, worth roughly $29 million at launch.

Jake Chervinsky is the founder and CEO of the new center. He is a veteran crypto lawyer who previously served as policy chief at the Blockchain Association and legal head at crypto venture fund Variant.

The center’s policy director is Salah Ghazzal, formerly Variant’s policy lead. Brad Bourque, a former associate at law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, joins as policy counsel.

Hyperliquid is a layer-1 blockchain and perpetual futures exchange. It has seen increased trading activity recently as users turned to commodities trading during a broad market downturn.

Why the Center Is Launching Now

Hyperliquid co-founder Jeff Yan said on X that it was a “critical time in policy discussions” in the US. He said the platform had “lacked a unified voice in important policy discussions until now.”

Chervinsky said more traditional finance companies are building on blockchain because the technology offers efficiency and transparency. He warned that the US risks falling behind other countries if it delays setting clear rules.

Congress is currently working on legislation to define how regulators police crypto markets. That includes debate over the CLARITY Act, which would determine whether DeFi platforms fall under SEC or CFTC jurisdiction.

The bill remains stalled in the Senate. Disagreements between lawmakers, the crypto industry, and banks over stablecoin provisions have slowed progress.

Without clear rules, many DeFi platforms currently block US users to avoid legal risk. The policy center says it wants to fix that by educating lawmakers on how decentralized protocols actually work.

What the Center Plans to Do

DeFi protocols run through code rather than corporate executives. Chervinsky says that distinction is often misunderstood in Washington, leading to policies that treat them like traditional exchanges.

The center aims to close that gap. Its stated focus is on advocating for laws that recognize DeFi’s structure rather than forcing it into existing financial frameworks.

The Hyperliquid Policy Center’s founding team also includes its newly appointed staff. The group has not yet announced specific legislative priorities beyond perpetual derivatives and blockchain infrastructure.

Congress has not yet passed any major crypto market structure legislation. The debate over stablecoin rules remains one of the key sticking points holding up broader crypto bills in the Senate.

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