Hyperliquid Policy Center Launches to Shape DeFi Future

In a bold move to influence U.S. crypto laws, the Hyperliquid Policy Center opened its doors in Washington D.C. on February 18, 2026. This new group, led by top crypto lawyer Jake Chervinsky, promises to guide lawmakers toward smart rules for decentralized finance. With big funding behind it, the center could change how DeFi grows in America, but will it succeed amid tough regulatory fights?

The Hyperliquid Policy Center started as an independent nonprofit focused on research and pushing for better policies. It aims to help U.S. leaders understand blockchain tech and build rules that let DeFi thrive without old-school roadblocks. This launch marks a key step for the crypto world to get a stronger voice in Washington.

Jake Chervinsky takes the helm as CEO. He brings years of experience from big names in crypto. Before this, he served as chief policy officer at the Blockchain Association, where he fought for industry-friendly laws. He also worked as general counsel at Variant, a venture firm that backs early crypto projects, and at Compound Labs, a leading DeFi platform.

Chervinsky started his career as a litigation attorney at firms like Baker McKenzie. There, he handled cases in financial services, which gave him deep knowledge of how money rules work. His shift to crypto came as the sector boomed, and he saw the need for clear guidelines to protect users while sparking innovation.

The team includes strong players too. Salah Ghazzal joins as policy director after leading policy efforts at Variant. Brad Bourque comes on as policy counsel, fresh from Sullivan & Cromwell, a top law firm. The center plans to hire more staff, like a chief of staff and heads for communications and government relations.

Strong Backing Fuels the Mission

Money talks in policy work, and the Hyperliquid Policy Center has plenty. The Hyper Foundation gave an initial grant of 1 million HYPE tokens. At launch, those tokens were worth about $28 million to $29 million, based on market prices around $28.68 to $29.60 per token on February 18.

Hyperliquid itself is no small player. This DeFi platform specializes in perpetual derivatives, or perps, which let traders bet on asset prices with high leverage. In 2025, it grabbed an estimated 80% of the perp futures market share. Monthly trading volumes hit a record $400 billion in July that year.

The platform’s growth has been fast. Weekly volumes jumped from $13 billion to $47 billion by early 2026. This puts it up against giants like Binance and Coinbase. Recent 24-hour volumes topped $226 million, showing steady action.

Such support lets the center focus on real work. It can produce reports and meet with officials without cash worries. The big grant signals Hyperliquid’s commitment to making DeFi a safe space in the U.S.

Founders see this as timely. Jeff Yan, CEO of Hyperliquid, called it a critical moment for policy. He noted the platform lacked a unified voice before now.

Goals and Focus on DeFi Innovation

The center’s main job is to educate lawmakers on DeFi and perps. DeFi means financial services on blockchains, without banks in the middle. Perps are simple contracts that track asset prices, popular for quick trades but often on foreign sites.

HPC will create technical research to explain these tools. It pushes for rules that support onchain finance while guarding consumers. No more relying on heavy enforcement from the past, they say. Instead, build clear paths for growth.

A top goal is crafting a legal frame for perps to move into U.S. markets. Right now, these trades happen offshore due to unclear laws. The center wants to fix that, so innovation stays home and the U.S. doesn’t fall behind countries like those in Europe or Asia.

To break it down, here are key areas of focus:

• Educate Congress and agencies on blockchain basics.
• Draft rules that fit DeFi without stifling it.
• Address risks like scams while promoting safe tech.

Chervinsky stressed the urgency. “We’re in a moment where the U.S. faces a large challenge to rewrite the rules for the new chapter of DeFi,” he said. The center will provide expert input to avoid outdated regs that ignore how blockchains work.

This approach could help everyday users. Clear rules mean safer apps for lending, trading, or earning yields on crypto. Without them, folks risk bad deals or lost funds.

The work builds on past efforts. Groups like the DeFi Education Fund have paved the way, but HPC zeros in on perps and Hyperliquid’s strengths.

Impact on the Crypto Landscape Ahead

Hyperliquid’s push into policy shows the industry’s shift. Once shy of regulators, crypto firms now seek seats at the table. This center adds to that trend, giving DeFi a focused advocate.

For traders and builders, it means hope for stability. High volumes on Hyperliquid prove demand, but legal gray areas scare off big money. Better rules could draw institutions and boost the whole market.

Think about the numbers. With $400 billion monthly trades in 2025, perps drive DeFi growth. Yet, U.S. users often turn to risky offshore spots. HPC aims to change that, potentially unlocking billions in safe activity.

Challenges remain. Lawmakers move slow, and some fear crypto’s wild side. The center must prove DeFi protects people while innovating. Success here could set examples for other tech like NFTs or AI in finance.

On a personal note, as someone who’s covered crypto for decades, this feels like a turning point. It reminds me of early internet fights for open access. DeFi could transform money for regular folks, making it fairer and faster.

To show Hyperliquid’s rise, consider this quick table of recent growth:

This data, from industry trackers like Forbes and The Defiant, highlights why policy matters now.

As the Hyperliquid Policy Center settles in, it carries the weight of a booming sector. This effort could secure DeFi’s spot in America’s financial future, offering protection and progress for all. It sparks hope that smart rules will let innovation flourish, keeping the U.S. ahead in the digital money race.