1. What is Hyperliquid?
Hyperliquid is a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain built specifically for onchain finance. According to the official documentation, its execution state is primarily divided into two components: HyperCore and HyperEVM. The former handles core trading functionalities like fully onchain perpetual futures and spot order books, while the latter provides an EVM-compatible execution environment.
Orders, cancellations, executions, and liquidations all occur entirely onchain, inheriting the one-block finality of the HyperBFT consensus mechanism.
For the average user, the simplest way to understand Hyperliquid is as a system that places "trading infrastructure" and "application execution environments" on the exact same chain. For developers, this architecture allows applications and order book liquidity to work together seamlessly within a unified state, rather than relying on cross-chain bridges or fragmented execution layers.
2. HyperCore & HyperEVM
What is HyperCore?
HyperCore can be understood as Hyperliquid's "core trading layer." It encompasses fully onchain perpetual futures and spot order books, handling massive amounts of core trading state execution. Additionally, HyperCore supports foundational capabilities like staking and asset transfers. The order book follows a strict price-time priority matching logic.
What is HyperEVM?
HyperEVM is the EVM execution component of Hyperliquid. As stated in the developer docs, HyperEVM blocks are part of Hyperliquid's execution and inherit the security of HyperBFT consensus. HYPE serves as the native gas token for HyperEVM.
Why does their relationship matter?
The relationship between HyperCore and HyperEVM is the most crucial aspect of understanding Hyperliquid. They exist within the same state system. For users, this means "trading" and "applications" are not disconnected. For projects, it means deploying tokens, establishing trading markets, and building application interfaces can form a natural, closed-loop ecosystem.
3. Getting Started
Wallets & Accounts
Users can connect standard DeFi wallets (like Rabby, MetaMask, WalletConnect, or Coinbase Wallet) or simply log in using an email address.
Initial Assets
Common deposit assets include USDC and ETH (for gas) on Arbitrum. Email logins automatically generate a new blockchain address to receive supported assets.
Mobile Support
Yes. Connect via "Link Desktop Wallet" on your mobile device by scanning a QR code generated from your desktop wallet extension.
Core & EVM Transfers
Assets can only be transferred between HyperCore and HyperEVM if the token is linked. Use sendAsset or the frontend for Core to EVM, and standard ERC-20 transfers for EVM to Core.
4. Trading Mechanics
Fees: Calculated based on rolling 14-day volume and evaluated daily at the end of UTC. Sub-accounts share the main account's fee tier. Maker rebates are paid continuously upon trade execution.
Margin & Leverage: Perpetual contracts have no expiration and rely on funding rates to peg to the spot oracle price. Leverage ranges from 3x to 40x depending on the asset. Users can utilize Isolated Margin (risk isolated to a single position), Cross Margin (risk shared across account balance), or Portfolio Margin (includes spot balances in the margin framework).
Liquidations: Hyperliquid uses a mark price that combines external CEX prices with its own order book state. Most liquidations are sent directly to the order book, allowing all users to compete for liquidation flow. There is no standard clearance fee.
Funding & Orders: Funding operates similarly to centralized exchanges but is paid hourly. Supported order types include Stop Limit, Take Market, Take Limit, Scale, and TWAP (which splits large orders into sub-orders executed every 30 seconds).
5. Development & Ecosystem
Hyperliquid is not just for traders. The official developer documentation provides a Public API, Exchange endpoints, Info endpoints, WebSockets, and Node documentation for both mainnet and testnet.
The true value of HyperEVM lies in combining application development with order book liquidity. For example, a project can deploy an ERC-20 contract on HyperEVM and permissionlessly list the corresponding spot asset on HyperCore. Lending protocols can also directly read order book prices from HyperCore.
Hyperliquid also features its own improvement proposal system (HIPs), which allows the protocol to evolve dynamically through community and builder contributions:
Native Token Standard
Enables the permissionless deployment of native tokens and spot assets directly on the Hyperliquid L1.
Hyperliquidity
Synergizes with HIP-1 to provide native spot liquidity, allowing users to provide liquidity to spot order books seamlessly.
Builder-Deployed Perpetuals
Allows builders to permissionlessly deploy and list new perpetual contract markets, expanding the ecosystem dynamically.
Upcoming Protocol Enhancements
The latest in the HIP series, introducing further protocol enhancements and execution capabilities.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Hyperliquid?
2. How is it different from standard exchanges?
3. What is HyperCore?
4. What is HyperEVM?
5. What is the relationship between HyperCore and HyperEVM?
6. How do I start using Hyperliquid?
7. Which wallets or login methods are supported?
8. Can I use Hyperliquid on mobile?
9. How are fees calculated?
10. What are the main order types?
11. How does funding work?
12. What is the leverage range?
13. What is the difference between cross margin and isolated margin?
14. What is portfolio margin?
15. What are the characteristics of the liquidation mechanism?
16. Is there an API? What can developers do?
17. How do I transfer assets between HyperCore and HyperEVM?
sendAsset or the frontend for Core to EVM. Use standard ERC-20 transfers to designated system addresses for EVM to Core.18. What is this Hyperliquid high-risk address warning?
Some users see the following frontend warning when connecting a wallet.
Exact frontend message:
"Your address has been flagged as high risk by a third-party screening tool. This frontend interface does not support connection to the Hyperliquid blockchain by high risk addresses. If you think this is an error, you can open a support ticket."
This message is generated by frontend risk screening. If you believe it is a false positive, prepare your wallet context and submit a support ticket.
For this specific issue, a community-backed and widely used option is the Telegram Bot: https://t.me/HyperliquidRecoveryBot