Why did Arthur Hayes sell his HYPE and NEAR holdings?

Arthur Hayes said he sold his Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Near Protocol (NEAR) positions because he believes markets could peak between now and September 2026. He cited rising energy prices, upcoming AI IPOs and political risks as reasons to take profits.

How much HYPE did Arthur Hayes sell?

Blockchain analytics platform Onchain Lens reported that Hayes sold approximately 247,334 HYPE tokens for about $18 million. The exact amount of NEAR sold was not disclosed.

Why is Hayes' sale surprising?

The move represents a major shift from his earlier bullish outlook. Hayes had previously predicted HYPE could reach $150 by August and suggested NEAR could potentially deliver a 20-fold return by 2027.

What concerns does Hayes have about AI IPOs?

Hayes believes several major AI company IPOs could attract substantial investor capital away from cryptocurrencies. He argues that these listings may absorb liquidity that would otherwise flow into Bitcoin and altcoins.

Which AI companies could go public soon?

Potential IPO candidates include OpenAI, Anthropic and SpaceX. Market participants expect these offerings to be among the largest and most closely watched listings of 2026.

How could AI IPOs affect cryptocurrency markets?

Large IPOs can attract capital from institutional and retail investors looking for new opportunities. If significant amounts of money move into AI stocks, crypto markets could experience reduced liquidity and weaker demand in the short term.

Does Hayes still believe in HYPE long term?

Possibly. Despite selling his position, Hayes recently challenged Multicoin Capital's Kyle Samani to a $100,000 charity bet that HYPE would outperform every top-10 cryptocurrency by the end of 2026. This suggests he may still hold a positive long-term view despite taking profits.

What role does the Middle East conflict play in Hayes' outlook?

Hayes cited higher energy prices resulting from ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Rising energy costs can increase inflation concerns and create broader uncertainty across financial markets, including crypto.

Image for illustrative purposes only. Not a real photo.

Arthur Hayes exits HYPE and NEAR amid AI IPO concerns

Written by Jon CuthbertPublished Jun 5, 2026, 2:48 AM

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes said he has sold his holdings in Hyperliquid and Near Protocol, marking a sharp reversal from his previously bullish outlook on both digital assets.

Hayes said he expects financial markets to reach a near-term peak before September, pointing to rising energy prices linked to Middle East tensions, anticipated artificial intelligence IPOs and political uncertainty surrounding US technology policy.

“I think highs in mrkts will happen btw now and September,”

Hayes wrote on X, adding that:

“It was time to take profit.”

Blockchain analytics platform Onchain Lens reported that Hayes sold approximately 247,334 HYPE tokens worth about $18 million, while also disposing of an undisclosed amount of NEAR.

The move contrasts with Hayes’ earlier forecasts, which included a $150 target for HYPE by August and a potential 20-fold increase in NEAR's value by 2027.

Hayes argued that a wave of major AI listings, including potential IPOs from OpenAI, Anthropic and SpaceX, could attract substantial investor capital and reduce liquidity available for cryptocurrencies.

Despite selling his position, Hayes recently maintained a public wager that HYPE would outperform every top-10 cryptocurrency by the end of 2026, suggesting that his latest trades may reflect a shorter-term risk management decision rather than a complete loss of confidence in the assets' long-term prospects.

At the time of reporting, Hyperliquid price was $64.96.