VanEck, the $90 billion global investment manager, has confirmed plans to launch an exchange-traded fund (ETF) tied to Hyperliquid's native token HYPE. The firm is preparing to file for a spot-staking HYPE ETF in the United States while simultaneously launching a related exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe. This would make HYPE the youngest digital asset yet to receive such a filing from a major asset manager.
The announcement follows speculation triggered by VanEck CEO Jan van Eck's direct communication with the Hyperliquid community on X, where he expressed strong support for the project's technology, decentralized governance, and rollout method. He revealed that VanEck has been holding HYPE tokens for several months and is "bullish on Hyperliquid."
The proposed ETF represents a significant innovation as it would combine spot exposure with staking capabilities, allowing investors to potentially benefit from both HYPE price appreciation and staking yields generated through participation in the blockchain's consensus mechanism. If approved, this would mark a milestone in the evolution of digital asset ETFs.
VanEck also revealed it is considering additional measures to support the Hyperliquid ecosystem, potentially including a buyback or ecosystem support program similar to how the firm supported Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs by committing a portion of profits to core developers. The spokesperson emphasized that the ETF plans are separate from Hyperliquid's ongoing governance debates and Agora's stablecoin proposal.
Regulatory approval remains uncertain, particularly in the US where the SEC has only recently begun approving spot digital asset ETFs. The addition of staking yields could raise new regulatory concerns around custodianship and investor protections. However, VanEck's move signals growing conviction that Hyperliquid could become a core player in decentralized trading infrastructure.