CZ hails Trump’s Hyperliquid US push as hugely positive for crypto

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has defended President Trump’s push to bring HyperliquidX into the United States legally. On X, he argued that the White House’s stance on pushing for HyperliquidX would not only benefit the platform but could also have positive implications for the broader crypto industry.

Popular content creator Jake Gagain cited his remarks on X: “This is not just about Hyperliquid. There will be so many Perp DEXs and decentralized services available to U.S. users. This is hugely positive for everyone in the industry.”

These comments follow President Donald Trump’s announcement that federal regulators are mapping out a way to bring Hyperliquid onshore, in full alignment with US laws. Speaking to a delegation of tech and crypto leaders at the White House on August 19, Trump explicitly recognized Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig for spearheading the initiative. 

He noted, “I understand Mike [Selig] is also working to bring Hyperliquid into the United States in a fully compliant and legal fashion.”

Zhao insists that policies apply to everyone in the industry

In another X post, Zhao argued that framework policies are made for an entire industry, so the standard set for one company applies to every other company in the industry. He commented, “Many people miss the bigger picture. Policy cannot be applied to only one company/project. What’s good for one is good for the rest of the industry.” 

For the White House gathering where Trump made his announcement, his audience included top executives from Ripple, Coinbase, Robinhood, Kraken, and Nasdaq, as well as regulators Paul Atkins (SEC) and Michael Selig (CFTC). During the event, Trump particularly directed attention toward Hyperliquid, the top decentralized perpetuals platform, which explicitly designates US residents as restricted users. 

Though this is not the first time Hyperliquid has been brought to the attention of the crypto industry. In a June appearance on the Bankless podcast, Selig addressed inquiries regarding a US launch for the platform, noting that the technology would ultimately redefine markets. 

“We want to create a path to bring these onchain markets into the United States and make sure they comply with some form of regulation,” Selig said.

Hyperliquid has been engaging with U.S. regulators

While Washington is currently considering measures to bring Hyperliquid to the U.S., the company itself has been actively working to secure a place in the American market. 

Per an earlier Cryptopolitan report, Hyperliquid has sustained its engagement with U.S. regulatory bodies in an effort to secure a viable entry point into domestic markets. Financed by the Hyper Foundation, the Hyperliquid Policy Center has been conducting policy research in Washington, D.C., with the explicit goal of legalizing regulated access to US on-chain perpetual contracts 

At the moment, regulatory restrictions are the primary hurdle to Hyperliquid operating in the United States. While perpetuals aren’t technically outlawed in the States, they are still incompatible with the execution and clearing guidelines outlined in the Commodity Exchange Act.

Nonetheless, more recently, U.S. regulators have shown a significant willingness to modify traditional oversight mechanisms to integrate perpetual-style derivatives into the legal financial system.

Back in May, the CFTC approved a spot Bitcoin perpetual contract, with plans to evaluate other assets case by case. A month later, the agency asked the crypto community to weigh in on two structural shifts: continuous 24/7 trading for traditional futures and perpetual contracts for physical energy products like crude oil. 

A potential turning point for decentralized derivatives

A regulated U.S. launch would mark a major turning point for the decentralized derivatives market. Hyperliquid is one of the largest on-chain perpetual trading platforms, where users can trade leveraged contracts without a centralized exchange.

Bringing such a platform to the U.S. under a compliant framework would provide regulators with an opportunity to test whether decentralized financial infrastructure can operate within existing market rules.

For the entire crypto industry, the implications could go beyond perpetual contracts. And if regulators find an effective way to approve Hyperliquid, other decentralized exchanges and on-chain financial systems could also work with regulators. So more crypto companies could develop products that are specifically designed to satisfy U.S. regulatory requirements, rather than excluding American users.

Zhao’s comments thus reveal a broader shift in Washington’s approach to decentralized finance, and the Hyperliquid case could set a precedent for how regulators treat other on-chain markets.

Trump also encouraged lawmakers to pass the CLARITY Act

Meanwhile, at the White House gathering, other crypto issues came up. For starters, Trump was questioned on whether the government intends to buy Bitcoin in the near future. A question, he pointed to the Securities and Exchange Commission for further guidance. 

Trump also called on lawmakers to pass the CLARITY Act, a bill that has faced several delays and setbacks. He described it as “very powerful, structured legislation” that would help the U.S. stay ahead of China and other countries. 

The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.