19 Feb 2026

1h 29m

E159: Jeff Yan, Hyperliquid CEO: Why Crypto Must Fix Finance Before AI Takes Over

When Shift Happens Podcast

The podcast explores Hyperliquid's vision for the future of decentralized finance with Jeff Yan, the founder and CEO of Hyperliquid Labs. Yan emphasizes Hyperliquid's commitment to building a neutral platform, drawing parallels to the internet and AWS, and highlights the importance of community-driven development. He argues that DeFi values, such as transparency and accessibility, are crucial for upgrading the financial system and enabling a more equitable landscape. The discussion covers Hyperliquid's approach to handling FUD, the significance of permissionless perps (HIP3), and the role of the Hyper-EVM in fostering innovation. Yan also touches on the importance of outcome markets for expressing nonlinear beliefs and the need for a financial system that can adapt to the rapid advancements in AI.

Outlines

Part 1: Vision, Context, and Reputation

Part 2: Team Culture and Operational Philosophy

Part 3: Transparency and Addressing Criticism

Part 4: Technical Infrastructure and EVM

Part 5: Permissionless Perps and HIP3

Part 6: Financial Primitives and Market Structures

Part 7: Ecosystem, Stablecoins, and Lending

Part 8: Future Outlook and Conclusion

Continue

Preview

How to Get Rich: Every EpisodeNaval

E159: Jeff Yan, Hyperliquid CEO: Why Crypto Must Fix Finance Before AI Takes Over

When Shift Happens Podcast

Part 1: Vision, Context, and Reputation

00:00Hyperliquid's Token Buyback Criticism and Protocol Fee Burning Explained

Hyperliquid's Token Buyback Criticism and Protocol Fee Burning Explained

00:15Hyperliquid's Vision: Building the Internet for Finance

Hyperliquid's Vision: Building the Internet for Finance

01:23Singapore as a Hub for Building: Safety, Modernity, and Lack of Distractions

Singapore as a Hub for Building: Safety, Modernity, and Lack of Distractions

02:26Hyperliquid's Airdrop Success and the Uniqueness of Crypto Ownership

Hyperliquid's Airdrop Success and the Uniqueness of Crypto Ownership

04:12The Journey, Not the Destination: Hyperliquid's Vision and Positive Representation in Crypto

The Journey, Not the Destination: Hyperliquid's Vision and Positive Representation in Crypto

06:27Mismatch Between Potential and Builders in Crypto Due to Negative Reputation

Mismatch Between Potential and Builders in Crypto Due to Negative Reputation

07:50Leading by Example: Building with Integrity in the Crypto Ecosystem

Leading by Example: Building with Integrity in the Crypto Ecosystem

Part 2: Team Culture and Operational Philosophy

09:07Responsibility in Finance: Trust, Execution, and System Design

Responsibility in Finance: Trust, Execution, and System Design

10:47Hyperliquid's Community: From Hidden Cult to Industry-Wide Support

Hyperliquid's Community: From Hidden Cult to Industry-Wide Support

13:04Building Value, Not Cults: Passion and Shared Values in the Hyperliquid Community

Building Value, Not Cults: Passion and Shared Values in the Hyperliquid Community

15:20Operational Changes Post-TGE: Decentralization and Continued Building

Operational Changes Post-TGE: Decentralization and Continued Building

17:41Decentralized Building: Hyperliquid's Approach to Ecosystem Development

Decentralized Building: Hyperliquid's Approach to Ecosystem Development

19:40Internal vs. External Building: Prioritizing Decentralization and Long-Term Health

Internal vs. External Building: Prioritizing Decentralization and Long-Term Health

21:56Motivating a Small, Wealthy Team: High Integrity and Love for the Tech

Motivating a Small, Wealthy Team: High Integrity and Love for the Tech

24:44No Celebration: Hyperliquid's Focus on the Journey, Not the Destination

No Celebration: Hyperliquid's Focus on the Journey, Not the Destination

26:44Testing for High Integrity: Soft Signals and Team Consensus

Testing for High Integrity: Soft Signals and Team Consensus

28:29Sleep and Productivity: Trusting the Team and Respecting Individual Needs

Sleep and Productivity: Trusting the Team and Respecting Individual Needs

Part 3: Transparency and Addressing Criticism

30:42Financial Privacy: Protecting Employee Token Holdings

Financial Privacy: Protecting Employee Token Holdings

31:40Addressing FUD: Correcting False Information and Misrepresentations

Addressing FUD: Correcting False Information and Misrepresentations

32:26Personal Impact of FUD: Misinformation and Competitive Deflection

Personal Impact of FUD: Misinformation and Competitive Deflection

35:02Hyperliquid's Automated Fee Burning: Not a Discretionary Buyback Program

Hyperliquid's Automated Fee Burning: Not a Discretionary Buyback Program

37:19Hyperliquid as a Neutral Platform: Building Finance on Chain

Hyperliquid as a Neutral Platform: Building Finance on Chain

Part 4: Technical Infrastructure and EVM

39:03Hyper-EVM: Deploying Ethereum Contracts on Hyperliquid

Hyper-EVM: Deploying Ethereum Contracts on Hyperliquid

40:41Hyper-EVM's Success: Misunderstanding and Unique Integration with Hypercore

Hyper-EVM's Success: Misunderstanding and Unique Integration with Hypercore

42:01Seamless Integrations: Native USCC and the Unique Interaction Between Hypercore and Hyper-EVM

Seamless Integrations: Native USCC and the Unique Interaction Between Hypercore and Hyper-EVM

Part 5: Permissionless Perps and HIP3

44:36HIP3: Permissionless Perps and the Option for Users to Use Perps

HIP3: Permissionless Perps and the Option for Users to Use Perps

46:01Challenges and Success: Building Permissionless Perps on Hyperliquid

Challenges and Success: Building Permissionless Perps on Hyperliquid

47:43Hyperliquid's Approach vs. Others: Decentralized Specialization in Finance

Hyperliquid's Approach vs. Others: Decentralized Specialization in Finance

Part 6: Financial Primitives and Market Structures

51:32Bringing Finance On-Chain: Keeping Up with Technological Development

Bringing Finance On-Chain: Keeping Up with Technological Development

52:33DeFi Values: Neutrality, Accessibility, and Programmability

DeFi Values: Neutrality, Accessibility, and Programmability

53:46Early Numbers: Justifying the Power of a Permissionless Protocol

Early Numbers: Justifying the Power of a Permissionless Protocol

56:26Unassailable Principles: Accessibility and Open Systems

Unassailable Principles: Accessibility and Open Systems

59:00Spot Trading: Peer-to-Peer Vision and Coherence with Crypto

Spot Trading: Peer-to-Peer Vision and Coherence with Crypto

1:01:30Prediction Markets in 2018: Lessons Learned and Continued Innovation

Prediction Markets in 2018: Lessons Learned and Continued Innovation

1:03:24Outcome Markets: Expressing Nonlinear Beliefs on Hyperliquid

Outcome Markets: Expressing Nonlinear Beliefs on Hyperliquid

1:05:53Nonlinear Payout Structures: Options, Prediction Markets, and Derivatives

Nonlinear Payout Structures: Options, Prediction Markets, and Derivatives