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The much-anticipated Hypurr NFT debut has energized the Hyperliquid (HYPE) ecosystem, with the token trading at $47.23 as of press time which is up 5% in the past 24 hours. After dipping to $43 last week, HYPE recovered toward the $50 mark, though it remains 20% below its all-time high of $59.30 set on September 18.
Daily trading volume rose 11% to $522 million, according to CoinGlass, signaling stronger short-term activity. Futures volume climbed nearly 14% to $1.8 billion, but open interest barely moved, reflecting heightened speculation rather than long-term conviction.
On September 28, the Hyperliquid Foundation launched the Hypurr NFT debut, a collection of 4,600 cat-themed digital collectibles deployed on the HyperEVM. Of these, 4,313 were airdropped to early supporters from the project’s Genesis Event in November 2024, while the remainder went to the Foundation, Hyperliquid Labs, artists, and core contributors.
“The Hypurr NFT debut shows how culture and infrastructure can converge,” said Michael Lee, analyst at Delphi Digital. “By embedding NFTs into its liquidity engine, Hyperliquid is testing whether collectibles can double as utility assets.”
Market enthusiasm has been strong. The collection appeared on OpenSea with floor prices around 1,458 HYPE (roughly $68,700). One piece even sold for more than $467,000, underscoring demand among early adopters.
Despite the excitement, risks surfaced quickly. Noted blockchain investigator ZachXBT reported a theft of eight Hypurr NFTs worth approximately $400,000, warning holders to remain vigilant about wallet security.
“Every major NFT launch attracts both innovation and opportunists,” ZachXBT said in a community update. “The Hypurr NFT debut is no exception as users need to secure their wallets or risk costly mistakes.”
The incident highlights a broader challenge facing NFT ecosystems: balancing accessibility with robust security. With collectibles tied directly to core liquidity infrastructure, breaches could have ecosystem-wide effects.
Price action remains choppy. HYPE is currently consolidating between $44 and $47, with $44 acting as strong support and $50 marking the next resistance.
Technical indicators suggest caution. The relative strength index (RSI) sits at 46, signaling neutral momentum. The MACD remains negative, showing lingering bearish pressure. Meanwhile, Bollinger Bands are tightening, often a precursor to sharp price moves.
Short-term moving averages (10-, 20-, and 50-day EMAs) are bearish, pointing to ongoing selling pressure. However, the 100- and 200-day averages remain supportive, reinforcing that the broader uptrend is intact.
“If HYPE can break above $50 with conviction, a retest of the September high near $59 is possible,” said Ava Turner, senior analyst at Kaiko. “But losing $44 could trigger a slide toward the $30 zone.”
For now, the Hypurr NFT debut is giving bulls fresh arguments, while technical levels define the near-term battlefield.
The Hypurr NFT debut marks more than just a cultural experiment as it signals Hyperliquid’s ambition to blur the lines between liquidity provision, user engagement, and decentralized applications. By tying NFTs directly into its trading engine, the foundation aims to expand its ecosystem beyond pure finance into community-driven experiences.
Still, critics caution that high-priced collectibles may not sustain long-term momentum.
“Speculative demand from the Hypurr NFT debut could fade if utility doesn’t materialize,” said Turner. “Investors need to watch whether developers actually build meaningful applications around these assets.”
For now, however, the debut has succeeded in reigniting attention on Hyperliquid. With trading volumes rising, collectors engaging, and developers exploring new integrations, the project’s cat-themed NFTs are proving to be more than just a novelty.
