Summary: Hyperliquid launches a $29M policy center in DC to push for clearer DeFi rules and educate lawmakers on how decentralized derivatives work, signaling a maturing industry moving from shadow lobbying to direct engagement.Abstract: The article reports Hyperliquid's establishment of a Washington, D.C. policy center funded with about $29 million to advocate for clear U.S. DeFi regulations. Led by Jake Chervinsky, the initiative aims to illuminate how DeFi operates as code rather than through traditional corporate leadership and seeks legal pathways for trading derivatives in the U.S. It highlights ongoing jurisdiction debates between the SEC and CFTC and frames lobbying as a long-term effort to foster innovation while reducing regulatory risk, including the risk of offshore activity in the interim.

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2026-05-11 19:37:47

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Hyperliquid Launches $29M Policy Center to Lobby for DeFi in Washington

Alex Ioannou

Thu, February 19, 2026 at 6:05 AM GMT+9 2 min read

In this article:

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Hyperliquid is launching a new policy center in Washington, D.C., backed by approximately $29 million in funding.

Announced on Wednesday, February 18, the initiative aims to fight for clearer rules for Decentralized Finance (DeFi) in the United States. This significant move signals that the DeFi sector is maturing and ready to engage directly with lawmakers rather than staying in the shadows.

But will this investment be enough to gain regulatory clarity for crypto traders?

The new center enters the scene as lawmakers debate bills like the CLARITY Act, trying to decide whether these platforms fall under the SEC’s or the CFTC’s jurisdiction. Without clear guidance, many DeFi platforms currently block U.S. users to avoid legal trouble.

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What The $29M Policy Center Means For DeFi Regulation

The Hyperliquid Policy Center is not branding itself as just another lobby shop. It is pitching itself as an independent research group, backed by 1 million HYPE tokens from the Hyper Foundation, worth about $29 million at launch. That is serious funding.

At the front is Jake Chervinsky, a familiar name in crypto law and former general counsel at the Blockchain Association.

He argues the U.S. risks falling behind if it keeps dragging its feet on blockchain policy. In his view, the country either builds smart rules now or watches other nations take the lead.

The focus is clear. Educate lawmakers on how decentralized derivatives actually function. DeFi protocols operate through code, not corporate executives. That difference often gets lost in Washington, leading to policies that treat them like traditional exchanges. The center aims to close that gap before regulation locks innovation out.

Ideally, this leads to legal ways for you to trade perpetuals in the U.S. However, industry observers note that lobbying is a long game. Without clear rules for now, engaging with offshore DeFi platforms still carries regulatory risks. The center hopes to fix this by advocating for laws that recognize DeFi’s unique structure and move beyond the current valid-or-invalid debate.

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Read original story Hyperliquid Launches $29M Policy Center to Lobby for DeFi in Washington by Alex Ioannou at 99bitcoins.com

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