‘Peak Degen Warfare’: Attacker Wipes Out $3M Collateral to Inflict $4.9M Loss on Hyperliquid’s HLP Fund

A new, bizarre form of market attack has been identified on the Hyperliquid derivatives platform. Lookonchain reports that an attacker intentionally lost $3 million in collateral to inflict a $4.9 million loss on the Hyperliquidity Provider (HLP) fund via a POPCAT manipulation.

The attack was a complex, multi-step manipulation.

Lookonchain data shows the attacker first withdrew 3 million USDC from OKX on Wednesday, November 12. This capital was then split across 19 different wallets and deposited into Hyperliquid.

Once funded, the attacker opened 125.14 million POPCAT long positions, valued at $26.28 million.

To create an “illusion of strong demand,” the attacker then placed a massive, $20 million buy wall near the $0.21 price level. This action triggered a significant, artificial inflation of POPCAT’s price. The attacker then canceled the buy wall, triggering a liquidity collapse and mass liquidations.

The HLP fund was forced to absorb these toxic positions, resulting in a $4.9 million loss. The attacker’s entire $3 million in staked collateral was wiped out in the process. This indicates the attacker did not aim for profit, but rather to “nuke liquidity” by intentionally burning their own capital.

The incident has sparked confusion among the Hyperliquid community, with many questioning the motive. One market participant described the episode as “peak degen warfare.” He noted it was a classic case of “manufactured demand illusion followed by a flush.”

Another user described the POPCAT blowout as a “masterclass in self-destruction disguised as genius.” He suggested the attacker was “engulfed by their ego,” forgetting that the attack could backfire.

This perspective suggests the attacker was not seeking profit. Instead, they were likely “clout chasing,” willing to pay $3 million to inflict damage and prove a point, without realizing the full cost to themselves.