Hyperliquid Policy Center Opens Washington Office to Push Blockchain Finance Rules

Hyperliquid Policy Center opens doors. The new Washington D.C. outfit launched February 18, 2026, with CEO Jake Chervinsky leading the charge to get lawmakers on board with blockchain finance rules. HPC wants to educate politicians and shape policy.

The center’s pretty much all about decentralized finance stuff. Chervinsky and his team think DeFi can totally change how money works, but they know it needs smart regulation to make that happen safely. They’re pushing for rules that don’t kill innovation while keeping things secure. Senator Maria Torres already said she wants to work with HPC after meeting with them February 17. She’s interested in finding ways to let DeFi grow without screwing over regular people who use financial services.

Not really surprising timing here.

Blockchain’s getting hot with lawmakers right now, and regulatory frameworks are still kind of a mess. HPC sees a chance to jump in and help write the rules before someone else does it badly. “We work with lawmakers to ensure informed decisions,” Chervinsky said during the launch event. The center plans workshops and forums to get policymakers up to speed on how this tech actually works.

HPC’s got backing from big names in tech and finance, though they didn’t say exactly who’s writing the checks. Funding comes from private donations and industry partnerships, according to their February 18 statement. The center also cranks out research reports analyzing blockchain’s impact on finance markets. “Our research is vital for understanding the technology,” Chervinsky added, noting that most politicians don’t really get how DeFi works yet.

Things move fast in this space.

The center’s first major project kicks off March 2026, focusing on teaching traditional banks how to use blockchain solutions. “Financial institutions are key partners,” Chervinsky said, pushing the idea that old-school finance needs to work with new tech instead of fighting it. HPC wants to bridge that gap between Wall Street types and crypto folks who usually can’t stand each other. Related coverage: OpenAI Teams Up with Paradigm to.

But it’s not all smooth sailing for HPC. Some Congress members still think blockchain’s basically gambling with extra steps. Chervinsky admits “misinformation hampers progress” when talking about the skeptics. The center’s trying to fix that by meeting with doubters and showing them actual data instead of hype. They’re also dealing with regulatory acceptance that’s basically all over the map – some agencies are cool with blockchain, others want nothing to do with it.

Academic partnerships are coming too. HPC wants to team up with at least three major universities by end of 2026 for joint research projects. They think getting professors involved will add credibility to their policy recommendations. The center’s also working on a partnership with the Blockchain Alliance, announced February 20, to pool resources and tackle regulatory challenges together.

International cooperation’s on Chervinsky’s radar as well. He’s been talking with European regulatory bodies about aligning standards so blockchain transactions can work across borders without getting tangled up in different rules. “Global consistency is crucial for blockchain’s success,” he said in a recent interview. The center plans to expand outreach to international bodies to harmonize global regulatory standards.

FINRA talks are happening too. HPC confirmed February 19 they’re discussing guidelines with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to help integrate blockchain into traditional financial markets. These conversations are part of their bigger push to make sure regulations keep up with how fast the technology’s moving.

HPC’s prepping a comprehensive report on DeFi’s impact on global markets, due out April 2026. The document will dig into how DeFi platforms are changing financial transactions and what that means for future regulations. They’re also releasing a policy brief March 1 about the economic benefits of putting blockchain into the U.S. financial system, complete with case studies from countries that already did it successfully. This follows earlier reporting on SEC Cuts Fund Reporting Rules.

The center’s planning its first public forum for April 2026 with the National Blockchain Association. Industry leaders and policymakers will give keynote speeches, and they’re hoping to get real dialogue going about practical applications of DeFi within existing regulatory frameworks. Chervinsky’s also hitting the Blockchain Conference in New York City March 15 to present HPC’s latest research findings and hunt for potential partnerships.

A satellite office opens in San Francisco February 25, 2026. HPC wants stronger ties with Silicon Valley tech firms to push their mission of getting innovative financial solutions into mainstream use. The West Coast office will probably focus more on the tech side while D.C. handles the political stuff.

HPC’s waiting to see how government officials respond to their initiatives. Official feedback’s still pending, but the center keeps pushing for blockchain’s role in finance. Chervinsky stays optimistic that dialogue will eventually win over the skeptics, even though regulatory acceptance remains pretty uneven across different agencies and congressional committees.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Financial Research has been quietly studying DeFi protocols since late 2025, collecting data on transaction volumes and systemic risks. Their preliminary findings suggest DeFi markets now process over $2 trillion in monthly transactions globally, making regulatory clarity more urgent than ever.

Federal Reserve Chair Patricia Williams mentioned blockchain integration during her January testimony to Congress, signaling potential central bank interest in HPC’s work. The Securities and Exchange Commission has also started regular briefings with industry groups, creating an opening for policy centers like HPC to influence upcoming regulations.