Arthur Hayes Sells HYPE and NEAR Amid AI IPO Concerns

WHO:

Cointelegraph - Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and Chief Investment Officer of Maelstrom

NewsBTC - Ali Martinez, analyst

WHAT:

Cointelegraph - Arthur Hayes sold his holdings in HYPE and NEAR.

NewsBTC - Hayes exited his entire positions in Hyperliquid's HYPE token and NEAR Protocol.

NewsBTC - HYPE had delivered returns well above Hayes' entry price following a 55% weekly surge that pushed the token above $56.

NewsBTC - HYPE's price records important losses on the daily chart.

NewsBTC - HYPE had delivered 130% in year-to-date returns at the time of the exit.

WHERE:

NewsBTC - The exit marks a significant about-face for Hayes, who had publicly identified HYPE as one of his two largest positions outside Bitcoin.

WHEN:

NewsBTC - Hayes announced his exit on June 4.

NewsBTC - Hayes stated a price target of $150 for HYPE by August 2026.

WHY:

NewsBTC - Hayes cited five macro and geopolitical factors weighing on risk assets between now and early Q3 2026.

NewsBTC - The first factor is higher energy prices driven by the ongoing Iran war and inventory restocking.

NewsBTC - The second factor is a pipeline of three mega AI initial public offerings anticipated between now and early Q3, which may absorb significant institutional risk capital.

NewsBTC - The third factor is a prediction that Trump will pivot to an anti-AI political stance ahead of the midterm elections.

NewsBTC - The fourth factor is a broader view that market highs across asset classes will occur between now and September.

NewsBTC - The fifth factor is personal; Hayes wants to take profit and enjoy a "two-step in beefa."

HOW:

NewsBTC - Hayes' exit is described as a portfolio-level risk management decision rather than a loss of conviction in either HYPE or NEAR as assets.

(UPDATED June 4, 2026 17:53 UTC)

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and Chief Investment Officer of Maelstrom, has sold his entire positions in Hyperliquid's HYPE token and NEAR Protocol, marking a significant shift since he had previously identified HYPE as one of his two largest holdings outside Bitcoin. Hayes cited five macro and geopolitical factors influencing his decision, including rising energy prices due to the ongoing Iran war, anticipated mega AI IPOs, and a prediction that Trump will adopt an anti-AI stance ahead of the midterm elections. He stated that he aims for HYPE to reach a price target of $150 by August 2026, while also expressing a desire to take profits and enjoy a "two-step in beefa."