In a significant move poised to influence the future of decentralized finance (DeFi) in the United States, crypto platform Hyperliquid has announced the launch of the Hyperliquid Policy Center, a dedicated advocacy group based in Washington, DC. Founded with a substantial backing of 1 million HYPE tokens—valued at approximately $29 million—this initiative seeks to carve out a comprehensive regulatory framework for DeFi amidst ongoing discussions in Congress.
The announcement was made on February 18, 2026, marking a watershed moment for the DeFi space, as traditional finance increasingly integrates blockchain technologies. Spearheading the center is Jake Chervinsky, a well-respected figure in the crypto legal arena and the former policy chief at the Blockchain Association. Under his leadership, the center aims to push for clear regulations that support the innovative potential of DeFi.
Chervinsky commented, “HPC is an independent research and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that DeFi can flourish in the United States.” His vision is to promote an environment where decentralized finance can thrive, empowering individuals and businesses alike with transparent and efficient financial solutions.
Joining Chervinsky is an expert team that includes Salah Ghazzal, former policy lead at Variant, and Brad Bourque, a previous associate at the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and insight into the legal nuances of blockchain technologies.
The Hyperliquid Policy Center intends to focus primarily on areas such as perpetual derivatives and the overall blockchain financial infrastructure. This focus is particularly timely, as Congress currently debates pivotal bills regarding the emerging crypto market structure, despite the fact that many remain stalled in the Senate.
Hyperliquid’s co-founder, Jeff Yan, emphasized the importance of this initiative during what he termed a “critical time in policy discussions.” He remarked that the DeFi sector has suffered from a lack of a unified voice in legislative matters until now, which the new center aims to rectify.
As discussions in the Capitol continue, lawmakers are grappling with various proposals, notably the CLARITY Act. This legislation seeks to determine jurisdictional clarity for DeFi platforms, dividing responsibilities between the SEC and CFTC. The process, however, has faced obstructions primarily due to differing views on stablecoin regulations, a contentious topic among legislators, the banking sector, and the crypto industry.
In the absence of clearly defined regulations, many DeFi platforms have opted to exclude US users from their services to mitigate legal risks. The Hyperliquid Policy Center views this as an urgent problem to address, advocating for educational efforts targeted at lawmakers to elucidate how decentralized protocols operate.
A key aspect of the center’s mandate will be addressing the common misconceptions surrounding DeFi protocols, which operate through code rather than conventional corporate governance. Chervinsky noted that this misunderstanding often leads to regulations that misclassify DeFi platforms as traditional exchanges, a distinction that the new center aims to clarify.
As it lays the groundwork to advocate for a regulatory landscape that accurately reflects the structure of DeFi, the Hyperliquid Policy Center is poised to play a pivotal role in the evolving dialogue about crypto legislation in the United States. While the center has not disclosed specific legislative goals beyond its initial focus on perpetual derivatives and blockchain infrastructure, its establishment marks a significant step toward shaping a conducive environment for the future of decentralized finance.
The landscape of crypto regulation is rapidly changing, and with organizations like the Hyperliquid Policy Center leading the charge, stakeholders in the DeFi ecosystem may finally see the clarity they have long sought after.
