Deep Dive
1. HyperEVM Mainnet Launch (2025)
Overview: This major upgrade integrates an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) directly into Hyperliquid's Layer 1. It lets developers build and run Ethereum-style smart contracts, opening the door to a vast ecosystem of decentralized apps (dApps) like lending and borrowing platforms.
The HyperEVM blocks are secured by Hyperliquid's native consensus (HyperBFT), inheriting its speed and security. It includes a system for converting between native HYPE and EVM-compatible WHYPE, and a canonical bridge contract for DeFi. This creates a unified environment where complex financial applications can interact seamlessly with Hyperliquid's core trading engine.
What this means: This is bullish for HYPE because it significantly expands the utility of the blockchain beyond just trading. It makes the ecosystem more attractive to developers, which can lead to new applications, increased user activity, and greater demand for the HYPE token as the native gas fee. (Source)
2. HIP-3 Permissionless Perps (October 2025)
Overview: Hyperliquid Improvement Proposal 3 (HIP-3) was a network upgrade that decentralized the process of listing new assets. It allows any builder to permissionlessly launch a perpetual futures contract on Hyperliquid's core exchange (HyperCore) by staking a significant amount of HYPE tokens.
This mechanism includes safeguards like open interest caps and validator slashing to manage risk. It directly ties new market creation to the staking and utility of the HYPE token, incentivizing long-term holding.
What this means: This is bullish for HYPE because it turns the token into a fundamental requirement for growing the platform's offerings. It creates a new, utility-driven demand sink for HYPE (through staking) and empowers the community to directly influence which assets are traded, fostering organic ecosystem growth. (Source)
3. BorrowLendingProtocol Testnet (November 2025)
Overview: This development represents Hyperliquid's expansion into decentralized lending and borrowing. The BorrowLendingProtocol (BLP) is being tested on the Hypercore testnet, initially supporting USDC and the PURR token.
The feature aims to create a native money market within the ecosystem, allowing users to earn yield on deposits or take out loans. This increases capital efficiency for traders and provides another core DeFi primitive.
What this means: This is bullish for HYPE because it adds a major new use case to the Hyperliquid ecosystem, making it a more comprehensive financial hub. Successful implementation could attract more capital (TVL), increase user engagement, and enhance the overall value proposition of holding and using HYPE within its native environment. (Source)
Conclusion
Hyperliquid's development trajectory is clearly focused on evolving from a specialized perpetuals DEX into a broad, programmable Layer 1 for finance, with recent codebase updates enabling smart contracts, permissionless market creation, and native lending. Will the upcoming mainnet launch of its lending protocol be the key to unlocking its next growth phase?