|

Hyperliquid Price Forecast: HYPE gains momentum amid staking, Open Interest rebound

  • Hyperliquid extends its recovery as bulls position for a potential short-term breakout.
  • HYPE’s staking balance increases by nearly 6% to $1.37 billion as recovery momentum builds.
  • Retail demand is strengthening the Hyperliquid derivatives market, with Open Interest rising to $1.41 billion.

Hyperliquid (HYPE) is showing renewed strength, trading above $26.00 at the time of writing on Wednesday, as bulls regain control following a period of consolidation. The rebound is largely supported by improving on-chain metrics and growing derivatives market activity.

Hyperliquid’s DeFi growth fuels recovery optimism

Hyperliquid staking activity has surged by nearly 6% to reach $1.37 billion on Wednesday, signaling increased confidence among long-term holders.

The surge marks a significant turnaround in the Total Value Locked (TVL) in the network’s Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ecosystem, which had declined to $1.3 billion as of Tuesday, down from a record high of $2.79 billion on September 19.

Investors lock their holdings in smart contracts when they intend to hold for the long term. Increasing staking balance often has a bullish effect on prices, as the available supply in the open market narrows.

Hyperliquid staking balance | Source: DefiLlama

Meanwhile, the Hyperliquid derivatives market reflects investors’ optimism for a price recovery, with futures Open Interest (OI) rising to $1.41 billion on Wednesday from $1.3 billion on Tuesday.

The growth in OI, which represents the notional value of outstanding futures contracts, reflects the strengthening retail demand and trader positioning ahead of a potential short-term breakout.

HYPE Futures Open Interest | Source: CoinGlass

Technical outlook: Hyperliquid poised for breakout

Hyperliquid is trading above $26.00 at the time of writing on Wednesday, reflecting positive sentiment in the broader cryptocurrency market. This rebound is supported by the Relative Strength Index (RSI), which is near the midline on the daily chart, suggesting a neutral-to-bullish transition.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator on the daily chart is above the red signal line, suggesting traders should lean into risk. If the green histogram above the zero line continues to expand, HYPE will likely gain momentum for a breakout above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $28.22.

HYPE/USDT daily chart

Still, three moving averages, including the 50-day EMA at $28.22, the 100-day EMA at $32.13 and the 200-day EMA at $33.25, are sloping downward, suggesting that the overall trend remains largely bearish. A close above this moving average cluster and the descending trendline would be required to confirm Hyperliquid’s transition from bearish to bullish.

Open Interest, funding rate FAQs

Higher Open Interest is associated with higher liquidity and new capital inflow to the market. This is considered the equivalent of increase in efficiency and the ongoing trend continues. When Open Interest decreases, it is considered a sign of liquidation in the market, investors are leaving and the overall demand for an asset is on a decline, fueling a bearish sentiment among investors.

Funding fees bridge the difference between spot prices and prices of futures contracts of an asset by increasing liquidation risks faced by traders. A consistently high and positive funding rate implies there is a bullish sentiment among market participants and there is an expectation of a price hike. A consistently negative funding rate for an asset implies a bearish sentiment, indicating that traders expect the cryptocurrency’s price to fall and a bearish trend reversal is likely to occur.

Author

John Isige

John Isige

FXStreet

John Isige is a seasoned cryptocurrency journalist and markets analyst committed to delivering high-quality, actionable insights tailored to traders, investors, and crypto enthusiasts. He enjoys deep dives into emerging Web3 tren

More from John Isige
Share:

Editor's Picks

Hyperliquid gains momentum amid staking, Open Interest rebound

Hyperliquid is showing renewed strength, trading above $26.00 at the time of writing on Wednesday, as bulls regain control following a period of consolidation. The rebound is largely supported by improving on-chain metrics and growing derivatives market activity.

XRP halts rally despite futures and ETF inflows rising

Ripple is trading down to $2.15 at the time of writing on Wednesday after posting a brief rally the previous day. The uptrend, fueled by improved market sentiment after the US reported lower-than-expected core inflation in December, reached $2.19 before the ongoing correction.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP hold steady as ETF inflows strengthen short-term bullish outlook

Bitcoin is trading above $95,000 at the time of writing on Wednesday, as positive sentiment lifts the broader cryptocurrency market's bullish outlook. Altcoins, including Ethereum and Ripple, are also holding onto some of the gains from Tuesday's macro-driven rally.

Pi Network steadies as market sentiment lifts recovery prospects

Pi Network holds above $0.2000 on Wednesday after bouncing over 1% from a local support trendline the previous day. A recovery in broader market sentiment signals renewed risk appetite among investors.

Orange Juice Newsletter – Smart insights by real people. Every day.

A free newsletter highlighting key market trends to help traders stay a step ahead. Daily insights on the most relevant trading topics, compiled by our experts in an easy-to-read format so you never miss an important move.

Bitcoin: Early-2026 rally falters as BTC investors await key catalyst

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading lower toward $90,000 on Friday after encountering rejection at a key resistance zone. The price pullback in BTC is supported by fading institutional demand, as spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have recorded net outflows so far this week.