Nasdaq-listed trading platform Lion Group Holding has announced plans to gradually shift its holdings of Solana (SOL) and Sui (SUI) into Hyperliquid (HYPE), the native token of the Hyperliquid blockchain. The move highlights the growing institutional interest in HYPE and the broader decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.

Strategic Shift to Hyperliquid

Lion Group’s portfolio currently includes 6,629 SOL tokens, valued at over $1.4 million, and more than one million SUI tokens, worth roughly $3.5 million. According to the company, these assets will be exchanged gradually for HYPE to optimize the average acquisition price by taking advantage of market fluctuations.

Wilson Wang, CEO of Lion Group, stated that this disciplined accumulation approach aims to enhance portfolio efficiency and position the company for sustained growth in the evolving DeFi landscape. He emphasized that the move is part of a broader strategy to capitalize on institutional HYPE custody solutions offered in the U.S. by crypto custodian BitGo.

HYPE Reaches New All-Time High

The announcement coincides with HYPE reaching a new all-time high of $51.84, according to CoinGecko data. Lion Group currently holds over 128,000 HYPE tokens, and the conversion of SOL and SUI could increase its holdings to more than 96,000 additional HYPE tokens, further strengthening its position in the market.

This accumulation reflects the company’s confidence in Hyperliquid’s on-chain infrastructure, which includes a decentralized order book and efficient trading mechanisms, according to Wang. These features are viewed as key advantages for both liquidity and institutional adoption.

$600 Million Crypto Treasury Facility

Earlier this year, Lion Group secured a $600 million facility from ATW Partners to support its crypto treasury strategy. Initially, the treasury focused on HYPE, SOL, and SUI, selecting assets based on market relevance and institutional backing. Solana was included for its dominance in consumer-facing applications, while SUI was chosen for its association with World Liberty Financial.

This facility allows Lion Group to systematically acquire HYPE and other strategic crypto assets, underlining the company’s methodical approach to treasury management.

Positive Market Reaction

Following the announcement, Lion Group’s stock price rose over 11%, reflecting investor confidence in the strategic shift to HYPE. In after-hours trading, shares gained an additional 10%, reaching $1.65, marking a total increase of over 20% since the initial disclosure of the HYPE acquisition plan.

Other Institutional HYPE Acquisitions

Lion Group is not the only firm increasing exposure to HYPE. In July, Hyperliquid Strategies (formerly Sonnet BioTherapeutics) disclosed plans to acquire 12.6 million HYPE tokens, while U.S.-based biotech firm Hyperion DeFi (previously Eyenovia) began its HYPE accumulation in June, acquiring over 1.5 million tokens.

These moves indicate a growing trend among corporate entities to adopt HYPE as part of treasury diversification strategies, signaling confidence in Hyperliquid’s infrastructure and long-term viability.

Implications for DeFi and Corporate Treasuries

Lion Group’s actions underscore the increasing role of digital assets in corporate treasury strategies, particularly in Asia. Firms are turning to tokens like HYPE to diversify holdings, hedge against market volatility, and capitalize on technological infrastructure improvements in blockchain ecosystems.

By converting SOL and SUI into HYPE gradually, Lion Group aims to reduce exposure to price swings while maximizing token accumulation efficiency. This strategy also highlights the growing interplay between market timing, treasury management, and institutional adoption in shaping corporate crypto portfolios.

Conclusion

Lion Group’s strategic accumulation of Hyperliquid tokens, coupled with HYPE’s record price performance, demonstrates institutional confidence in decentralized finance solutions. With a disciplined, phased approach to treasury management and the backing of a $600 million funding facility, Lion Group positions itself as a leading participant in the Hyperliquid ecosystem.

The growing interest from other firms further validates HYPE’s emerging role as a key DeFi asset, while the company’s actions provide insights into the evolving strategies of corporations integrating digital assets into their balance sheets.