HYPE Token Staking Debuts on HyperLiquid Mainnet

HyperLiquid’s HYPE token staking went live, enabling holders to delegate tokens to validators, who must maintain a self-delegation of 10,000 HYPE, with commissions capped at a 1% max increase. Locked token staking is also supported (rewards remain locked initially).

Over 320 million HYPE tokens are already staked, with staking rewards distributed daily and compounded automatically. Transfers from staking to spot accounts require a seven-day unstaking queue, while jail penalties may apply to validators with inadequate performance.

Hyperliquid's staking reward rate follows a formula where rewards inversely correlate to the square root of the total HYPE staked, yielding approximately 2.37% annually at 400 million tokens staked. The Hyper Foundation also plans a Delegation Program to incentivize high-performing validators.

‍

MicroStrategy Adds 2,138 Bitcoin Before It Dipped to $92,000

MicroStrategy added 2,138 Bitcoin to its holdings for $209 million, marking the eighth consecutive week of purchases. The company’s total Bitcoin reserve now stands at 446,400 BTC, acquired at an average price of $62,428 per coin. The purchases were funded through MicroStrategy’s at-the-market share sales program, which has $6.88 billion remaining.

The announcement coincided with Bitcoin’s price falling to $92,000, triggered by profit-taking and macroeconomic pressures. Despite a 14% decline from its December peak, the company’s shares rank 57th in the Nasdaq 100, with a 0.38% index weighting. CEO Michael Saylor maintains optimism about Bitcoin’s long-term growth.

‍

Analysts Bet on Ethereum's Upcoming Q1 Performance

Ether’s historical performance in the first quarters following election years and Bitcoin's halving cycles suggest potential for considerable gains in Q1 2025. For example, Q1 2017 and Q1 2021 saw Ethereum’s value increase by 518% and 161%, respectively, outpacing Bitcoin in those quarters. For context, this year BTC gained 122%, while ETH climbed only 49%.

However, analysts are divided, with some forecasting substantial inflows into Ether ETFs under a pro-crypto Trump administration, while others predict macroeconomic headwinds could dampen performance. Current federal policies have trimmed projected 2025 rate cuts, creating a less favorable environment for risk assets.

‍

Ethena’s Head of Growth Departs Amid Strategic Shift

Seraphim Czecker, Ethena’s head of growth, announced his departure, citing a desire for rest after years in DeFi. During his tenure, Ethena’s USDe stablecoin became the fourth-largest by market cap, supported by partnerships with major exchanges including Binance and Coinbase.

Ethena recently launched USDtb, a reserve-backed stablecoin marking a pivot from its traditional cryptonomic model. The protocol has seen quick growth in total value locked, reaching over $6 billion since its debut. Czecker expressed continued support for Ethena and interest in exploring other industries, including AI and entertainment.

‍

Data of the Day

Decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volumes reached $462 billion in December, setting a new monthly record. Uniswap led the market with $106.4 billion in trading volume, followed by PancakeSwap with $96.4 billion. Solana’s Raydium ranked third, with $58 billion in monthly volume.

The surge in DEX activity coincided with broader adoption of decentralized applications and meme coin trading, particularly on Solana’s Pump.fun launchpad. Other top-performing DEXs included Aerodrome and Orca, which together accounted for over $53 billion in volume.

‍

More Breaking News

• MoonPay secures approval under MiCA regulations in the Netherlands, enabling fiat-to-crypto services in the EU as the new framework takes effect.
• Tether transfers 7,629 BTC worth $700M to its Bitcoin reserve, continuing its strategy of diversifying holdings into Bitcoin and emerging sectors.
• Grayscale Research adds six new tokens, including Virtuals Protocol, Jupiter, Jito, and Grass, to its ‘Top 20’ list for Q1 2025, citing growth and adoption metrics.
• China’s central bank emphasizes crypto regulation in its 2024 Financial Stability report, highlighting Hong Kong's crypto licensing amid mainland trading bans.
• Malaysia’s Securities Commission orders Bybit to cease operations locally for failing to register as a recognized market operator.

For the latest updates on digital asset markets, follow us on X @Datawalletcom.