Hyperliquid Hack Hits $6M — But Decentralised Exchanges Keep Rising

Decentralised exchanges (DEXs) are proving their staying power in the crypto landscape, maintaining momentum even in the face of vulnerabilities. The latest test came with a $6.2 million exploit on decentralised exchange Hyperliquid — yet the broader trend shows DEXs tightening their grip on the market.

Cointelegraph reported that a crypto whale managed to manipulate liquidation parameters on Hyperliquid, raking in at least $6.26 million through the memecoin Jelly my Jelly (JELLY). This marked the second major security event on the decentralised exchange in March alone.

Centralised Players on the Defensive

Co-founder of CoinGecko, Bobby Ong, noted in an April 3 post on X (formerly Twitter) that the exploit sparked accusations of coordinated attacks from centralised exchanges.

“$JELLYJELLY was the more notable attack where we saw Binance and OKX listing perps, drawing accusations of coordinating an attack against Hyperliquid,” Ong stated. “It’s clear that CEXes are feeling threatened by DEXes, and are not going to see their market share erode without putting on a fight.”

The growing traction of platforms like Hyperliquid suggests that even a high-profile exploit isn’t enough to derail the momentum of a strong decentralised exchange.

Decentralised Exchange: Hyperliquid Climbs the Ranks in Derivatives Trading

Hyperliquid has quickly positioned itself as the eighth-largest perpetual futures decentralised exchange by volume — surpassing long-standing platforms such as HTX, Kraken, and BitMEX, according to an April 4 CoinGecko report.

While Binance still dominates with over $19.5 billion in open interest, Hyperliquid holds a respectable $3 billion, ranking it as the 12th-largest derivatives decentralised exchange overall. The surge highlights a growing appetite among traders for non-custodial, decentralised platforms that provide exposure to leveraged markets.

Post-Exploit Response Raises Centralisation Concerns

Despite its decentralised exchange branding, Hyperliquid’s post-exploit actions raised eyebrows. Bitget Research analyst Ryan Lee cautioned that interventions taken by the platform may appear overly centralised to users who expect trustless and autonomous systems.

“Hyperliquid’s intervention — criticised as centralised despite its decentralised ethos — may make investors wary of similar platforms,” Lee explained.

The paradox facing any DEX is how to maintain user protection while adhering to decentralised principles. Hyperliquid’s choice to freeze and delist JELLY, while potentially necessary, has reignited this debate.

The Exploit Mechanism: A Deep Dive

Blockchain analytics firm Arkham revealed that the whale opened two long positions — worth $2.15 million and $1.9 million — and simultaneously placed a $4.1 million short. This calculated spread created artificial market pressure. When JELLY’s price surged by 400%, the oversized short wasn’t immediately liquidated due to Hyperliquid’s risk parameters.

The loss was ultimately absorbed by the Hyperliquidity Provider Vault (HLP), a safeguard mechanism built into the decentralised exchange. Ironically, the feature designed to protect the protocol enabled the exploit to reach such scale.

As of late March, the exploiter retained 10% of JELLY’s supply, worth nearly $2 million. Despite the token being delisted, this underscores the complexities DEX platforms face in balancing openness with security.

Decentralised Exchange Market Share Keeps Growing

Despite controversy and scrutiny, the data shows DEX platforms like Hyperliquid are gaining ground. The broader derivatives market is undergoing a quiet but powerful shift — with users showing increasing confidence in the flexibility, anonymity, and self-custody that DEXs offer.

And while the Hyperliquid incident rattled some investors, it hasn’t reversed the tide. The momentum behind every successful decentralised exchange points to a decentralised future that even billion-dollar centralised giants are struggling to contain.  For the latest and freshest news and analysis from the crypto world, stay glued to The Bit Gazette.