HYPERION DEFI, INC.

Current report

HYPE is a highly volatile asset, and fluctuations in the price of HYPE may influence our financial results and the market price of our listed securities.

Current report

Our financial results and the market price of our listed securities would be adversely affected, and our business and financial condition would be negatively impacted, if the price of HYPE decreased substantially, including as a result of:

Current report

Moreover, the price of our listed securities has been and is likely to continue to be volatile, and with the adoption of our new cryptocurrency treasury strategy, we expect to see additional volatility in our stock price. In addition, if investors view the value of our listed securities as dependent upon or linked to the value or change in the value of our HYPE holdings, the price of HYPE may significantly influence the market price of our listed securities. The price of HYPE has historically been, and is likely to continue to be, volatile.

Current report

HYPE and other digital assets are novel assets and are subject to significant legal and regulatory uncertainty.

Current report

HYPE and other digital assets are relatively novel and are subject to significant uncertainty, which could adversely impact their price. The application of state and federal securities laws and other laws and regulations to digital assets is unclear in certain respects, and it is possible that regulators in the United States or foreign countries may interpret or apply existing laws and regulations in a manner that adversely affects the price of HYPE or the ability of individuals or institutions such as us to own or transfer HYPE.

Current report

The U.S. federal government, states, regulatory agencies, and foreign countries may also enact new laws and regulations, or pursue regulatory, legislative, enforcement or judicial actions, that could materially impact the price of HYPE or the ability of individuals or institutions such as us to own or transfer HYPE. For example, within the past several years:

Current report

While the complaint against Coinbase was dismissed in February 2025, the complaint against Payward Inc. and Payward Ventures Inc. was dismissed with prejudice in March 2025, and the complaint against Binance was dismissed on May 29, 2025, the SEC or other regulatory agencies may initiate similar actions in the future, which could materially impact the price of HYPE and our ability to own or transfer HYPE.

Current report

It is not possible to predict whether or when new laws will be enacted that change the legal framework governing digital assets or provide additional authorities to the SEC or other regulators, or whether or when any other federal, state or foreign legislative bodies will take any similar actions. It is also not possible to predict the nature of any such additional laws or authorities, how additional legislation or regulatory oversight might impact the ability of digital asset markets to function, the willingness of financial and other institutions to continue to provide services to the digital assets industry, or how any new laws or regulations, or changes to existing laws or regulations, might impact the value of digital assets generally and HYPE specifically. The consequences of any new law or regulation relating to digital assets and digital asset activities could adversely affect the market price of HYPE, as well as our ability to hold or transact in HYPE, and in turn adversely affect the market price of our listed securities.

Current report

Our HYPE treasury strategy subjects us to enhanced regulatory oversight.

Current report

There has been increasing focus on the extent to which digital assets can be used to launder the proceeds of illegal activities, fund criminal or terrorist activities, or circumvent sanctions regimes, including those sanctions imposed in response to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. While we have implemented and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance with applicable anti-money laundering and sanctions laws and regulations and take care to only acquire our HYPE through entities subject to anti-money laundering regulation and related compliance rules in the United States, and are considering onboarding a chief compliance officer, if we are found to have purchased any of our HYPE from bad actors that have used HYPE to launder money or persons subject to sanctions, we may be subject to regulatory proceedings and any further transactions or dealings in HYPE by us may be restricted or prohibited.

Current report

A portion of our HYPE holdings may serve as collateral securing our outstanding indebtedness, and we may incur additional indebtedness or enter into other financial instruments in the future that may be collateralized by our HYPE holdings. We may also consider pursuing strategies to create income streams or otherwise generate funds using our HYPE holdings. These types of HYPE-related transactions are the subject of enhanced regulatory oversight. These and any other HYPE-related transactions we may enter into, beyond simply acquiring and holding HYPE, may subject us to additional regulatory compliance requirements and scrutiny, including under federal and state money services regulations, money transmitter licensing requirements and various commodity and securities laws and regulations.

Current report

Additional laws, guidance and policies may be issued by domestic and foreign regulators following the filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by FTX, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, in November 2022. The FTX collapse may have increased regulatory focus on the digital assets industry. Increased enforcement activity and changes in the regulatory environment, including changing interpretations and the implementation of new or varying regulatory requirements by the government or any new legislation affecting HYPE, as well as enforcement actions involving or impacting our trading venues, counterparties and custodians, may impose significant costs or significantly limit our ability to hold and transact in HYPE.

Current report

In addition, private actors that are wary of HYPE or the regulatory concerns associated with HYPE have in the past taken and may in the future take further actions that may have an adverse effect on our business or the market price of our listed securities. For example, it is possible that a financial institution could restrict customers from buying our securities if it were to determine that the value of our securities is closely tied to the performance of HYPE, signaling a reluctance to facilitate exposure to virtual currencies.

Current report

We plan to use a portion of our capital raised that is not required to provide working capital for our ongoing operations to invest in HYPE, which may adversely affect our financial results and the market price of our securities.

Current report

We plan to use a portion of our capital raised that is not required to provide working capital for our ongoing operations to invest in HYPE. The price of HYPE has been subject to dramatic price fluctuations and is highly volatile. Moreover, digital assets are relatively novel, and the application of securities laws and other regulations to such assets is unclear in many respects. It is possible that regulators may interpret laws in a manner that adversely affects the liquidity or value of our HYPE holdings.

Current report

Any increase or decrease in the fair value of HYPE will require us to recognize unrealized gains or losses, which could be material to our financial results for the applicable reporting period, which may create significant volatility in our reported earnings. Any decrease in reported earnings or increased volatility of such earnings could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our securities. In addition, the application of generally accepted accounting principles in the United States with respect to digital assets remains uncertain in some respects, and any future changes in the manner in which we account for our HYPE holdings could have a material adverse effect on our financial results and the market price of our securities.

Current report

In addition, if investors view the value of our securities as dependent upon or linked to the value or change in the value of our HYPE holdings, the price of such digital assets may significantly influence the market price of our securities.

Current report

Absent federal regulations, there is a possibility that HYPE may be classified as a “security.” Any classification of HYPE as a “security” would subject us to additional regulation and could materially impact the operation of our business.

Current report

Neither the SEC nor any other U.S. federal or state regulator has publicly stated whether they believe that HYPE is a “security.” Despite the Executive Order titled “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology,” which includes as an objective, “protecting and promoting the ability of individual citizens and private sector entities alike to access and … to maintain self-custody of digital assets,” HYPE has not yet been classified with respect to U.S. federal securities laws. Therefore, while (for the reasons discussed below) we believe that HYPE is not a “security” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws, and registration of the Company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”) is therefore not required under the applicable securities laws, we acknowledge that a regulatory body or federal court may determine otherwise. Our belief, even if reasonable under the circumstances, would not preclude legal or regulatory action based on such a finding that HYPE is a “security” which would require us to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

Current report

We have also implemented a process for analyzing the U.S. federal securities law status of HYPE and other cryptocurrencies as guidance and case law evolve. As part of our U.S. federal securities law analytical process, we take into account a number of factors, including the various definitions of “security” under U.S. federal securities laws and federal court decisions interpreting the elements of these definitions, such as the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in theHowey andReves cases, as well as court rulings, reports, orders, press releases, public statements, and speeches by the SEC Commissioners and SEC Staff providing guidance on when a digital asset or a transaction to which a digital asset may relate may be a security for purposes of U.S. federal securities laws. Our position that HYPE is not a “security” is premised, among other reasons, on our conclusion that HYPE does not meet the elements of theHowey test. Among the reasons for our conclusion that HYPE is not a security is that holders of HYPE do not have a reasonable expectation of profits from the efforts of Hyperliquid, the Hyperliquid Foundation or any other person, entity or group of persons in respect of their holding of HYPE. Also, HYPE ownership does not guarantee the right to receive any interest, rewards, or other returns. We believe that HYPE is a commodity due to its utility for gas.

Current report

We acknowledge, however, that the SEC, a federal court or another relevant entity could take a different view. Application of securities laws to the specific facts and circumstances of digital assets is complex and subject to change. Our conclusion, even if reasonable under the circumstances, would not preclude legal or regulatory action based on a finding that HYPE, or any other digital asset we might hold is a “security.” As such, we are at risk of enforcement proceedings and lawsuits against us, which could result in potential injunctions, cease-and-desist orders, fines and penalties if HYPE was determined to be a security by a regulatory body or a court. Such developments would adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and prospects.

Current report

Under Sections 3(a)(1)(A) and (C) of the Investment Company Act, a company generally will be deemed to be an “investment company” if (i) it is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities or (ii) it engages or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding, or trading in securities, and it owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Rule 3a-1 under the Investment Company Act generally provides that notwithstanding the test described in clause (ii) in the previous sentence, an entity will not be deemed to be an “investment company” for purposes of the Investment Company Act if no more than 45% of the value of its assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) consists of, and no more than 45% of its net income after taxes (for the last four fiscal quarters combined) is derived from, securities other than U.S. government securities, securities issued by employees’ securities companies, securities issued by qualifying majority owned subsidiaries of such entity, and securities issued by qualifying companies that are controlled primarily by such entity.

Current report

We do not believe that we are an “investment company” as such term is defined in either Section 3(a)(1)(A) or Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the Investment Company Act since we believe HYPE is not an investment security. With respect to Section 3(a)(1)(A), we do not hold ourselves out as being engaged primarily or propose to engage primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities within the meaning of such section. With respect to Section 3(a)(1)(C), we believe we satisfy the elements of Rule 3a-1 and therefore are deemed not to be an investment company under, and we intend to conduct our operations such that we will not be deemed an investment company under, Section 3(a)(1)(C).

Current report

HYPE is created and transmitted through the operations of the peer-to-peer Hyperliquid network, a decentralized network of computers running software following the HYPE protocol. If the Hyperliquid network is disrupted or encounters any unanticipated difficulties, the value of HYPE could be negatively impacted.

Current report

If the Hyperliquid network is disrupted or encounters any unanticipated difficulties, then the processing of transactions on the Hyperliquid network may be disrupted, which in turn may prevent us from depositing or withdrawing HYPE from our accounts with our custodian or otherwise effecting HYPE transactions. Such disruptions could include, for example: the price volatility of HYPE; the insolvency, business failure, interruption, default, failure to perform, security breach, or other problems of participants, custodians or others; the closing of HYPE trading platforms due to fraud, failures, security breaches or otherwise; or network outages or congestion, power outages, or other problems or disruptions affecting the Hyperliquid network. In addition, digital asset validating operations can consume significant amounts of electricity, which may have a negative environmental impact and give rise to public opinion against allowing, or government regulations restricting, the use of electricity for validating operations. Additionally, validators may be forced to cease operations during an electricity shortage or power outage.

Current report

We face risks relating to the custody of our HYPE, including the loss or destruction of private keys required to access our HYPE and cyberattacks or other data loss relating to our HYPE, including smart contract related losses and vulnerabilities.

Current report

We will hold our HYPE with regulated custodians that have duties to safeguard our private keys. Our custodial services contracts will not restrict our ability to reallocate our HYPE among our custodians, and our HYPE holdings may be concentrated with a single custodian from time to time. In light of the significant amount of HYPE we anticipate that we will hold, we expect to continually seek to engage additional custodians to achieve a greater degree of diversification in the custody of our HYPE as the extent of potential risk of loss is dependent, in part, on the degree of diversification. However, multiple custodians may utilize similar wallet infrastructure, cloud service providers or software systems, which could increase systemic technology risk.

Current report

If there is a decrease in the availability of digital asset custodians that we believe can safely custody our HYPE, for example, due to regulatory developments or enforcement actions that cause custodians to discontinue or limit their services in the United States, we may need to enter into agreements that are less favorable or take other measures to custody our HYPE, and our ability to seek a greater degree of diversification in the use of custodial services would be materially adversely affected. While we will conduct due diligence on our custodians and any smart contract platforms we may use, there can be no assurance that such diligence will uncover all risks, including operational deficiencies, hidden vulnerabilities or legal noncompliance.

Current report

Any insurance that may cover losses of our HYPE holdings may cover none or only a small fraction of the value of the entirety of our HYPE holdings, and there can be no guarantee that such insurance will be maintained as part of the custodial services we have or that such coverage will cover losses with respect to our HYPE. Moreover, our use of custodians exposes us to the risk that the HYPE our custodians hold on our behalf could be subject to insolvency proceedings and we could be treated as a general unsecured creditor of the custodian, inhibiting our ability to exercise ownership rights with respect to such HYPE. Any loss associated with such insolvency proceedings is unlikely to be covered by any insurance coverage we may maintain related to our HYPE. The legal framework governing digital asset ownership and rights in custodial or insolvency contexts remains uncertain and continues to evolve, which could result in unexpected losses, protracted recovery processes or adverse treatment in insolvency proceedings.

Current report

HYPE is controllable only by the possessor of both the unique public key and private key(s) relating to the local or online digital wallet in which the HYPE is held. While the L1 blockchain ledger requires a public key relating to a digital wallet to be published when used in a transaction, private keys must be safeguarded and kept private in order to prevent a third party from accessing the HYPE held in such wallet. To the extent the private key(s) for a digital wallet are lost, destroyed, or otherwise compromised and no backup of the private key(s) is accessible, neither we nor our custodians will be able to access the HYPE held in the related digital wallet. Furthermore, we cannot provide assurance that our digital wallets, nor the digital wallets of our custodians held on our behalf, will not be compromised as a result of a cyberattack. The HYPE and blockchain ledger, as well as other digital assets and blockchain technologies, have been, and may in the future be, subject to security breaches, cyberattacks or other malicious activities.

Current report

As part of our treasury management strategy, we may engage in staking, restaking, or other permitted activities that involve the use of “smart contracts” or decentralized applications. The use of smart contracts or decentralized applications entails certain risks including risks stemming from the existence of an “admin key” or coding flaws that could be exploited, potentially allowing a bad actor to issue or otherwise compromise the smart contract or decentralized application, potentially leading to a loss of our HYPE. Like all software code, smart contracts are exposed to risk that the code contains a bug or other security vulnerability, which can lead to loss of assets that are held on or transacted through the contract or decentralized application. Smart contracts and decentralized applications may contain bugs, security vulnerabilities or poorly designed permission structures that could result in the irreversible loss of HYPE or other digital assets. Exploits, including those stemming from admin key misuse, admin key compromise, or protocol flaws, have occurred in the past and may occur in the future.

Current report

Because we only recently initiated our HYPE treasury strategy, our historical financial statements do not reflect the potential variability in earnings that we may experience in the future from holding or selling significant amounts of HYPE. The price of digital assets have historically been subject to dramatic price fluctuations and is highly volatile. In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Crypto Assets (Subtopic 350-60): Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets (“ASU 2023-08”), which we have adopted.

Current report

ASU 2023-08 requires us to measure our HYPE holdings at fair value in our statement of financial position, and to recognize gains and losses from changes in the fair value of our HYPE in net income each reporting period. ASU 2023-08 also requires us to provide certain interim and annual disclosures with respect to our HYPE holdings. As a result, volatility in our earnings may be significantly more than what we experienced in prior periods.

Current report

Unrealized fair value gains on our HYPE holdings could cause us to become subject to the corporate alternative minimum tax under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

Current report

The United States enacted the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) in August 2022. Unless an exemption applies, the IRA imposes a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax (“CAMT”) on a corporation with respect to an initial tax year and subsequent tax years, if the average annual adjusted financial statement income for any consecutive three-tax-year period preceding the initial tax year exceeds $1 billion. On September 12, 2024, the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service issued proposed regulations with respect to the application of the CAMT.

Current report

In connection with the implementation of our HYPE treasury strategy, we have adopted ASU 2023-08. ASU 2023-08 requires us to measure our HYPE holdings at fair value in our statement of financial position, with gains and losses from changes in the fair value of our HYPE recognized in net income each reporting period. When determining whether we are subject to CAMT and when calculating any related tax liability for an applicable tax year, the proposed regulations provide that, among other adjustments, our adjusted financial statement income must include this ratable amount in addition to any unrealized gains or losses reported in the applicable tax year.

Current report

Accordingly, as a result of the enactment of the IRA and our adoption of ASU 2023-08, unless the IRA is amended or the proposed regulations with respect to CAMT, when finalized, are revised to provide relief (or other interim relief is granted), we could become subject to the CAMT in future tax years. If we become subject to the CAMT, it could result in a material tax obligation that we would need to satisfy in cash, which could materially affect our financial results, including our earnings and cash flow, and our financial condition.

Current report

Due to the unregulated nature and lack of transparency surrounding the operations of many HYPE trading venues, HYPE trading venues may experience greater fraud, security failures or regulatory or operational problems than trading venues for more established asset classes, which may result in a loss of confidence in HYPE trading venues and adversely affect the value of our HYPE.

Current report

HYPE trading venues are relatively new and, in many cases, unregulated. Furthermore, there are many HYPE trading venues which do not provide the public with significant information regarding their ownership structure, management teams, corporate practices and regulatory compliance. As a result, the marketplace may lose confidence in HYPE trading venues, including prominent exchanges that handle a significant volume of HYPE trading and/or are subject to regulatory oversight, in the event one or more HYPE trading venues cease or pause for a prolonged period the trading of HYPE or other digital assets, or experience fraud, significant volumes of withdrawal, security failures or operational problems.

Current report

The SEC alleged as part of its June 5, 2023, complaint against Binance that Binance committed strategic and targeted “wash trading” through its affiliates to artificially inflate the volume of certain digital assets traded on its exchange. The SEC has also brought recent actions against individuals and digital asset market participants alleging that such persons artificially increased trading volumes in certain digital assets through wash trades, or repeated buying and selling of the same assets in fictitious transactions to manipulate their underlying trading price. Such reports and allegations may indicate that the HYPE market is significantly smaller than expected and that the United States makes up a significantly larger percentage of the HYPE market than is commonly understood. Any actual or perceived wash trading in the HYPE market, and any other fraudulent or manipulative acts and practices, could adversely affect the value of our HYPE.

Previous report

The tariffs that have been imposed on products from various countries may have an adverse effect on our business.

Previous report

A potential negative effect on our business is the “Tariff War”, especially with China, Canada and Mexico. The increased tariffs the U.S. has imposed on products from these countries could have an adverse effect on our supply chain, potentially causing financial difficulty for our direct or indirect customers and reduced demand for our products. A continuation of these tariffs could have adverse changes in international trade policies and relations. Tariffs could increase the cost of our products and the components that go into making them. These increased costs could adversely impact the gross margin that we earn on our products. Tariffs could also make our products more expensive for customers, which could make our products less competitive and reduce consumer demand. Changing our operations in accordance with new or changed trade restrictions can be expensive, time-consuming and disruptive to our operations.

Previous report

We cannot predict how the events described above will evolve. If the events continue for a significant period of time or expand to other countries, and depending on the ultimate outcomes of these conflicts, which remain uncertain, they could heighten certain risks disclosed in Item 1A in our 2024 Form 10-K, including, but not limited to, adverse effects on macroeconomic conditions, including increased inflation, constraints on the availability of commodities, supply chain disruption and decreased business spending; disruptions to our or our business partners’ global technology infrastructure; adverse changes in international trade policies and relations; claims, litigation and regulatory enforcement; our ability to implement and execute our business strategy; our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations; reputational risk; and constraints, volatility, or disruption in the capital markets, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.