Valantis, a modular decentralized exchange (DEX) protocol, said it has acquired StakedHYPE, the second-largest liquid staking platform on Hyperliquid’s HyperEVM blockchain.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Valantis said StakedHYPE’s operations, development, and scaling efforts will now be managed by Valantis Labs. As part of the deal, Addison Spiegel, founder of Thunderhead (the entity behind StakedHYPE), is joining Valantis as an advisor.
StakedHYPE is the second-largest liquid staking platform after Kinetiq within the Hyperliquid ecosystem, with more than $200 million in total value locked (TVL), according to DeFiLlama. Valantis, initially launched to help developers build decentralized exchanges using composable modules, has since shifted to building products on its own stack, co-founder and CTO Ed Carvalho told The Block.
The firm recently launched an LST-specific DEX for StakedHYPE (stHYPE) and Kinetiq Staked HYPE (kHYPE), which it says are the two largest pools on HyperEVM, with nearly $70 million combined TVL and more than $500 million in cumulative trading volume. Carvalho said the StakedHYPE acquisition is designed for vertical integration, allowing Valantis to build further market infrastructure around LSTs.
“Valantis built initial traction as an LST-specific DEX, offering the best pricing/liquidity/returns for these kinds of assets,” Carvalho said. “Full vertical integration of an LST protocol and a DEX protocol will lead to the deepest liquidity and most efficient market.”
Carvalho added that StakedHYPE will expand beyond Hyperliquid staking emissions through HIP-3 (builder-deployed perpetuals front-end checks) and market maker fee discounts.
Valantis also plans to make the stHYPE token more permissionless, deepen integrations with its DEX and HyperCore (Hyperliquid’s perps exchange), and ultimately evolve stHYPE into a liquidity network for the broader Hyperliquid ecosystem.
Valantis is backed by investors including Kraken Ventures, Figment Capital, and Robot Ventures. Last year, the project announced raising $7.5 million at a $40 million valuation.
StakedHYPE’s team, Thunderhead, on the other hand, hasn’t raised external funds and has been profitable since inception, Spiegel told The Block. Thunderhead’s headcount is six, and the team will not be joining Valantis, he added.
The deal has fully closed, with concrete talks beginning only a few weeks ago after earlier informal discussions, Carvalho said. He declined to share the structure of the transaction — whether cash, tokens, or equity — and added that Valantis is unable to disclose the names of its banking or legal advisors due to contractual restrictions.
The Funding newsletter: Stay on top of the latest crypto VC funding and M&A deals, news, and trends with my free bi-monthly newsletter, The Funding. Sign up here!
© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
Trade Crypto On Coinhub Exchange
Trade Crypto On Coinhub Exchange
Stay ahead of the market by turning news insights into trading opportunities. With Coinhub Exchange, you can seamlessly buy, sell, and manage your digital assets, all in one secure platform. Take advantage of real-time market insights, deep liquidity, and fast execution for your favorite cryptocurrencies. Don’t just read about it — trade crypto now!
Disclaimer
The content of this article shown by Coinhub News, powered by The Block, is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Coinhub News and its affiliates are not a licensed financial advisor, legal advisor, broker, or tax advisor, and ... should not be considered as professional advice or a recommendation to engage in any specific investment, legal decision, or financial transaction. Cryptocurrency markets are highly speculative and volatile. Readers should perform their own independent research and consult with a qualified professional before making any financial or legal decisions. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Company of its affiliates. Additionally, the Company does not make any representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, timeliness, reliability, or completeness of any information in this article. By accessing this content, you acknowledge that any reliance on the information contained in this article is solely at your own risk. The Company is not responsible for any financial losses, legal disputes, or other damages that may arise from reliance on this content or from any investment or legal decisions based on the information provided. Investing in cryptocurrencies involves substantial risks, including the risk of losing your entire investment, and you should carefully consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances.
Read more
