TLDR
- Hyperliquid launched 4,600 free Hypurr NFTs for early users with current floor price at $68,930
- Single NFT with rare Knight Ghost Armor traits sold for $467,000 on launch day
- Trading volume reached $45 million within 24 hours of the HyperEVM mainnet launch
- 4,313 NFTs distributed to Genesis event participants, remainder split between foundation and developers
- Pre-launch OTC trading saw NFTs sell for up to $88,000 before official distribution
Hyperliquid delivered one of crypto’s most valuable airdrops this year when it distributed 4,600 Hypurr NFTs to early platform users on Sunday. The free digital cat collection immediately established a floor price above $68,000, creating instant wealth for recipients.
The perpetuals trading platform rewarded users who participated in November 2024’s Genesis event when HYPE token launched. Recipients could opt-in during the event to receive these commemorative NFTs on the HyperEVM mainnet.
Trading activity exploded immediately after launch. OpenSea data shows 952,000 HYPE tokens changed hands in the first 24 hours, equivalent to $45 million in volume. The current floor price sits at 1,463 HYPE tokens, worth $68,930 per NFT.
Record NFT Sale Drives Market Attention
The collection’s highest sale came from Hypurr #21, featuring extremely rare Knight Ghost Armor and Knight Helm Ghost traits. This unique NFT sold for 9,999 HYPE tokens, worth $467,000 at current prices.
Even before the official launch, demand reached fever pitch through over-the-counter trading. DripTrade’s OTC system enabled pre-launch sales up to $88,000. These agreements required sellers to fulfill trades within seven days of receiving their NFTs or forfeit posted collateral.
The 4,600 total NFTs were distributed as follows: 4,313 to Genesis event participants, 144 to the Hyper Foundation, and 143 to developers and artists. Each NFT displays unique cartoon cat avatars with different traits representing various aspects of the Hyperliquid community.
Community Response Split on Instant Wealth
Social media reactions ranged from celebration to criticism. Some users expressed discomfort seeing people receive assets worth more than annual salaries for free during difficult economic times.
User MoonOverlord commented on the contrast between people struggling financially and others posting $50,000 NFTs they received at no cost. Other recipients like DidiTrading announced plans to wait for market stabilization before making selling decisions.
The Hyper Foundation positioned the collection as a memento for early believers. Their official statement described each NFT as capturing unique community member personalities through the Hypurr character design.
The foundation’s terms explicitly state that while NFTs may gain utility features over time, no specific benefits are guaranteed. This disclaimer hasn’t dampened collector enthusiasm, with sustained trading activity continuing past the initial launch surge.
Current market dynamics show consistent buyer interest across multiple price tiers, suggesting the collection has established genuine demand beyond initial speculation.
