Tony G Co-Investment Holdings has officially entered the Hyperliquid ecosystem with a major token purchase, acquiring 10,387 $HYPE tokens for over $438,000. This marks the firm’s largest investment in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space so far.

The average purchase price was $42.24 per token. With this move, Tony G’s firm becomes the first publicly listed company to hold Hyperliquid’s native token in its treasury.

The announcement was confirmed by Tony G himself on X, where he shared a snapshot of the transaction and hinted that this investment is only the beginning.

Institutional Interest in Hyperliquid Grows

The acquisition was executed via WonderFi Technologies, a Canadian crypto platform, and highlights the growing interest from institutions in DeFi projects like Hyperliquid. Since its debut in late 2024, $HYPE has surged from $1 to over $42, gaining attention for its rapid growth and trading infrastructure.

Tony G Co-Investment’s CEO Matt Zahab commented on the purchase: “This acquisition reflects our belief in the future of decentralized trading infrastructure. Hyperliquid stands out as one of the most innovative protocols in the market right now.”

Zahab took over as CEO earlier this month and brings media and crypto experience, including his role as the host of the Cryptonews Podcast. His appointment follows leadership changes, including the departure of director Ron Akram and the promotion of Gediminas Klepackas to Chief Operating Officer.

Another Solana-Style Strategy in the Making?

The Hyperliquid move draws comparisons to Tony G’s earlier involvement with Sol Strategies. That company began building a large position in Solana (SOL) back in 2019. Under his leadership, Sol Strategies secured a CA$10 million credit line in 2024 and used it to boost its holdings. Today, the firm holds over CA$48 million in assets, including significant stakes in SOL and SUI.

While Hyperliquid is not part of the Solana ecosystem, analysts speculate that Tony G is applying a similar long-term investment strategy to $HYPE. The acquisition hints at strong conviction and a willingness to take early positions in promising blockchain infrastructure.

$HYPE Sees Massive Growth and Whale Activity

Hyperliquid’s native token is riding a strong upward trend. From just $1 at its launch to over $42 today, the token’s performance has caught the eye of traders and institutions alike.

In May alone, Hyperliquid recorded $248 billion in trading volume—a jump of over 840% compared to the same period last year. Its growing user base is supported by a “Season 2” points campaign that continues to attract new traders.

Influencers are also taking notice. Andrew Tate made headlines by revealing a 25x leveraged long position on ETH through Hyperliquid, which returned 138%. Large traders are piling in, too. One whale wallet accumulated over 259,000 $HYPE tokens, investing nearly $10 million, and reportedly netted more than $10 million in profits.

Can $HYPE Reach $50 and Beyond?

The market is watching closely as $HYPE inches toward the $50 mark. Fibonacci-based models suggest price targets of $77 and $103 in the coming months, depending on continued momentum and user growth.

With a current market cap of $13.39 billion, Hyperliquid is already ahead of SUI and closing in on Cardano’s $25 billion valuation. This fast-paced rise has fueled further speculation, especially following a teaser post from Binance.US featuring Hyperliquid. Although not confirmed, rumors of a potential listing have added to the hype.

Hyperliquid’s Appeal: Speed, Custody, and Ecosystem Strength

What makes Hyperliquid stand out is its hybrid design. The platform combines the speed and performance of centralized exchanges with the self-custody benefits of decentralized protocols. This appeals to both advanced traders and institutions looking for more control over their assets without sacrificing performance.

Its growing DeFi ecosystem, ease of onboarding, and incentives for liquidity providers make it an attractive protocol for investors and developers alike.

What’s Next for Tony G and $HYPE?

For Tony G, this is more than a short-term bet. His track record suggests a calculated strategy aimed at supporting infrastructure early and holding through major growth cycles. As he noted on social media, this is “just the beginning.”

While $HYPE may not follow the same exact path as SOL, the similarities in approach are hard to ignore—large purchases, early entry, and a strong belief in the long-term value of decentralized finance.

Investors will be watching how this new chapter unfolds. With increased attention, high-profile endorsements, and strong performance metrics, Hyperliquid could become one of 2025’s breakout protocols.