• Hyperliquid launches the Hyperliquid Policy Center with $28 million in HYPE funding.
• Crypto lawyer Jake Chervinsky becomes inaugural CEO.
• The initiative will focus on US DeFi regulation and perpetual derivatives policy.
The Hyperliquid Policy Center has launched with a $28 million funding commitment, marking the platform’s formal entry into US regulatory advocacy.
Hyperliquid appointed crypto lawyer Jake Chervinsky as its inaugural chief executive. The move signals a deeper industry push into Washington policymaking.
The initiative will focus on decentralized finance and perpetual derivatives frameworks.
Hyperliquid Policy Center Names Jake Chervinsky CEO
Hyperliquid confirmed the creation of the Hyperliquid Policy Center, a regulatory advisory and lobbying group dedicated to DeFi issues.
Jake Chervinsky will lead the center as CEO. He previously held senior roles at the Blockchain Association and venture firm Variant, and worked at Baker McKenzie.
“We’re in a moment where the U.S. faces a large challenge to rewrite the rules for the new chapter of DeFi,” Fortune reported, citing Chervinsky.
He said the center intends to help Congress and federal agencies better understand decentralized protocols and design updated regulatory structures.
According to Chervinsky, existing US financial regulations were built for centralized, analog systems and struggle to address automated blockchain platforms.
One priority will be crafting a legal framework for perpetual derivatives, which allow continuous exposure to underlying assets without expiration dates.
Perpetual contracts currently dominate offshore crypto markets. However, they remain largely absent from US regulated financial systems.
$28 Million HYPE Commitment Funds Policy Push
To support the initiative, the Hyperliquid Foundation committed 1 million HYPE tokens to fund the center.
At current valuations cited in coverage, the allocation equals roughly $28 million.
Brad Bourque, formerly of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, joins as Policy Counsel. Salah Ghazzal, previously Policy Lead at Variant, will serve as Policy Director.
The organization is also hiring for Chief of Staff, Head of Communications, and Head of Government Relations roles.
The announcement follows recent financial disclosures from Hyperliquid Strategies Inc., a publicly listed digital asset treasury entity.
According to those results, the firm deployed $129.5 million to acquire 5 million additional HYPE tokens at an average price of $25.90.
The report also acknowledged paper losses tied to recent market volatility.
Despite the policy center launch, HYPE’s price showed limited movement following the announcement.
Crypto Firms Deepen Washington Engagement
The Hyperliquid Policy Center reflects a broader shift in industry strategy.
In earlier cycles, crypto advocacy often flowed through trade groups such as the DeFi Education Fund or the Blockchain Association.
Now, individual platforms are forming dedicated policy arms.
That evolution comes as US lawmakers debate market structure legislation and agency oversight of digital assets.
Traders remember previous enforcement driven periods when regulatory uncertainty weighed on DeFi platforms.
Therefore, structured engagement may reduce policy risk over time. Still, outcomes depend on congressional action and agency rulemaking.
Long Term Strategy Over Immediate Price Action
The $28 million allocation underscores Hyperliquid’s commitment to regulatory influence.
However, policy engagement typically affects long term operating conditions rather than short term token price.
HYPE showed little immediate reaction to the announcement, suggesting markets may wait for measurable regulatory progress.
If US authorities eventually establish clearer frameworks for perpetual derivatives, platforms specializing in those products could benefit.
Yet legislative timelines remain uncertain, and regulatory debates continue.
The launch of the Hyperliquid Policy Center marks a strategic pivot from passive compliance to active regulatory engagement. By appointing Jake Chervinsky and committing $28 million in HYPE funding, Hyperliquid is positioning itself at the center of upcoming US DeFi debates, particularly around perpetual derivatives. Whether the effort shapes future legislation remains unclear, but the initiative reflects a maturing industry that increasingly views policy as core infrastructure rather than an external constraint.
