Hyperliquid Token Surge Triggers $17 Million Short Liquidations
- XPL token surge leads to $17M in liquidations.
- Driven by four whale addresses with $46M profits.
- Market attention spikes Hyperliquid governance token to new highs.

A sudden 2.5x spike in Hyperliquid’s pre-launch XPL token on August 27-28, 2025, led to over $17 million in liquidations, mainly affecting short traders.
The incident underscores the volatility in pre-launch token markets, attracting attention from DeFi stakeholders and demonstrating the influence of large traders on market dynamics.
On August 27-28, 2025, Hyperliquid’s XPL token spiked 2.5 times, causing $17 million in short liquidations and drawing attention from DeFi participants.
The token’s surge and resulting liquidations highlight ongoing volatility in pre-launch markets, with significant attention on Hyperliquid’s trading dynamics.
XPL Token Spike Causes $17 Million in Liquidations
The XPL token of Hyperliquid saw a 2.5x spike over two days, causing over $17 million in liquidations. This sudden market movement attracted DeFi participants and highlighted ongoing volatility in pre-launch markets.
Four major whale addresses significantly influenced this event, triggering liquidations and earning approximately $46 million in profits. The Hyperliquid protocol team affirmed that systems operated as designed, containing the exposure.
“Pre-launch markets are inherently unpredictable,” the team told users, highlighting the protocol’s risk controls and mark price formulas that aim to avoid unnecessary liquidations from flash volatility: source.
Whale Addresses Generate $46 Million Profit
The immediate consequence saw a massive liquidation of short positions, primarily impacting XPL/USD. This activity emphasized market volatility and heightened interest in Hyperliquid’s trading platform among DeFi stakeholders.
The broader financial repercussions were contained within the pre-launch contracts, leaving major cryptocurrencies unaffected. Market speculation surged, driving the HYPE governance token to its highest recorded value.
Historical Patterns in DeFi Short Squeezes
Similar short squeezes have occurred in the past within both DeFi and CeFi markets, but this event’s scale and the orchestrated actions of a few key addresses are noteworthy.
Market analysts predict that if pre-launch volatility persists, there may be ongoing speculation and potential for further extreme market movements, as historical trends often indicate heightened risk in such markets.
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