Are L1s Still Overvalued, Hyperliquid’s End Game & State of The Market
Are L1s Still Overvalued, Hyperliquid’s End Game & State of The Market
93 days agoEmpireBlockworks
Podcast55 min 55 sec
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

Consider buying Hyperliquid (HYPE), as it is showing significant strength in a down market and is expected to outperform when market sentiment improves. For long-term investors, the price range down to $60,000 for Bitcoin (BTC) is viewed as an attractive accumulation zone. Extreme caution is warranted for Ethereum (ETH), which is considered overvalued with significant downside risk toward the $1,700-$1,900 liquidation zone. Investors seeking exposure to a major smart contract platform should consider Solana (SOL) over Ethereum (ETH), with $90 being a particularly attractive entry point for SOL. The market is shifting focus from Layer 1 blockchains to revenue-generating applications, favoring projects with clear product-market fit.

Detailed Analysis

Bitcoin (BTC)

  • The market is described as looking "disastrous," with BTC at $74.2K at the time of recording.
  • Despite short-term weakness, the long-term sentiment among the speakers is generally bullish.
  • A key support level to watch is $60K, which corresponds with the 200-week moving average and other long-term indicators. This level is seen as a point that might entice long-term, strategic buyers.
  • One speaker mentioned they are looking to buy spot BTC for the first time in a while, considering the range between current prices and $60K as a potential accumulation zone.
  • The recent price decline is attributed partly to broader equity market weakness and concerns over "quantum risk."
    • There was a discussion around a $9 billion seller who was possibly motivated by quantum computing fears.
    • The speakers believe that if the selling is primarily due to quantum fears, it represents a "massive overcorrection" and a potential buying opportunity, as the threat is still distant and solutions are being worked on.
  • A potential catalyst for a price recovery is a broad market rally leading into the US midterm elections, which could drive capital back into risk assets like Bitcoin.

Takeaways

  • For Long-Term Investors: The price range between $74K and $60K is viewed as a potentially attractive area to accumulate Bitcoin for a long-term hold.
  • Key Level: Watch the $60,000 level closely. A drop to this price could be a significant buying opportunity, but a break below it could signal further weakness.
  • Risk Factor: Bitcoin's price is still highly correlated with the stock market. A significant downturn in equities would likely pull Bitcoin down as well.
  • Narrative to Watch: The "quantum risk" narrative is causing fear. If this fear leads to an excessive price drop, it could be a contrarian buying opportunity for those who believe the risk is overstated or far in the future.

Ethereum (ETH)

  • The sentiment around Ethereum is overwhelmingly bearish and it is considered overvalued by the speakers.
  • At a valuation of $260 billion, one speaker questions how it could be considered nearly as valuable as the AI company Anthropic ($350 billion secondary market valuation).
  • Ethereum's L2-centric scaling strategy is viewed as a multi-year failure. Vitalik Buterin's recent blog post acknowledging the need to focus more on scaling the L1 is seen as "too little, too late."
  • Even with a pivot, speakers believe Ethereum's L1 will struggle to compete on performance with rivals like Solana.
  • There are significant on-chain liquidation levels for ETH in the $1,700 to $1,900 price range. These large positions could act as a "magnet," pulling the price down as traders attempt to trigger them.

Takeaways

  • Extreme Caution Warranted: The speakers hold a very negative view on ETH at its current valuation, citing a failed roadmap and intense competition.
  • Key Downside Risk: Be aware of the $1,700 - $1,900 price zone. If ETH's price approaches this range, it could experience accelerated selling pressure due to forced liquidations.
  • Relative Value: Speakers strongly prefer Solana (SOL) over ETH, suggesting that if an investor wants exposure to a major L1, SOL may be the better bet.

Solana (SOL)

  • The price was noted to have gone under $100, with one speaker mentioning that at $90, SOL "looks really good" based on recent price history.
  • The sentiment is bullish relative to Ethereum. One speaker stated, "I don't see how you can hold ETH over SOL at these levels."
  • However, there is a risk that the entire "L1 trade" is over, meaning the market is no longer willing to assign massive valuations to base-layer blockchains.
  • If the market continues to favor revenue-generating applications over infrastructure layers, SOL could still struggle to gain value, even if it's technologically superior to ETH.

Takeaways

  • A Better L1 Bet?: For investors looking for exposure to a major smart contract platform, the podcast suggests Solana is a preferable alternative to Ethereum.
  • Sector Headwind: The entire Layer 1 sector is facing a "repricing," as investors shift focus to applications that generate direct revenue. This could cap the upside for SOL in the near term, regardless of its performance relative to ETH.
  • High-Risk Preference: One speaker noted that if they had to "ride one to zero," they would rather hold SOL than ETH, indicating higher conviction in Solana's long-term potential despite the risks.

Hyperliquid (HYPE)

  • Hyperliquid is the most positively discussed asset in the episode, described as "very clearly showing strength in a depressed market."
  • The team is praised for consistently "shipping meaningful new improvements," such as HIP3 and TradeXYZ, which allowed users to trade new markets like metals. The platform saw over $1 billion in volume on silver alone.
  • It is seen as one of the only projects currently fulfilling immediate user needs, which justifies its strong performance while the rest of the market is down.
  • One speaker is actively buying more HYPE, believing it will "re-rate higher" when market sentiment improves. The thesis is: "The coin that was doing the best [in a down market] should probably continue to do the best."
  • A future implementation of KYC (Know Your Customer) is discussed as a potential long-term bullish catalyst. While it could be bearish if implemented too early, adding it later could unlock access to large institutional capital.

Takeaways

  • A Standout Performer: Hyperliquid is highlighted as a top-tier asset due to its strong fundamentals (revenue, volume) and continuous product development, making it a potential core holding for crypto investors.
  • Relative Strength is Key: Its ability to perform well during a market downturn is a strong bullish signal. Investors looking for assets that can outperform should pay close attention to HYPE.
  • Long-Term Catalyst: The potential for a future, well-timed implementation of KYC could be a major turning point, bridging the gap between its current user base and large institutional investors.

Other Investment Mentions

Galaxy Digital (GLXY)

  • Sentiment: Bearish
  • Context: The company's recent earnings were called "quite disastrous," leading to a 20% drop in the stock price on the day. The discussion implies the company is struggling.

Helium (HNT)

  • Sentiment: Cautiously Bullish / Speculative
  • Context: Mentioned as a potential "turnaround" story within the beaten-down DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure) sector. The token is down significantly from its all-time high but is now reportedly generating revenue and expanding its service. At a $200 million valuation, it's presented as a high-risk, high-reward bet for those interested in the sector.

L1 vs. Applications Theme

  • Sentiment: Bearish on general-purpose L1s, Bullish on revenue-generating applications.
  • Context: There's a major market shift away from valuing Layer 1 blockchains (like Ethereum and Solana) on promises and towards valuing applications (like Hyperliquid) that have clear product-market fit and generate revenue. The era of simply launching an L1 and getting a billion-dollar valuation is over. Investors are now asking "where are your apps?" and "how do you make money?"

Quantum Computing Risk

  • Sentiment: Acknowledged as a real, but potentially overblown, short-term risk.
  • Context: The fear that quantum computers could break Bitcoin's encryption is being used to explain recent selling pressure. The speakers suggest this is a "digestible" narrative for sellers but may be causing an overreaction. If the market sells off heavily on this fear, it could create a significant buying opportunity for long-term believers.
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Episode Description
This week, the Hivemind team breaks down the continued sell-off in markets, from crypto to software. We deep-dive into the historical L1 premium, the endgame for Hyperliquid, Bitcoin's quantum threat, Vitalik's post on L2s, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Ceteris: ⁠https://x.com/ceterispar1bus⁠ Follow Jason: ⁠https://x.com/3xliquidated⁠ Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman Follow LTR: https://x.com/maybeltr Follow Empire: ⁠https://x.com/theempirepod⁠ Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/4jYEkBx⁠ Subscribe on Apple: ⁠https://bit.ly/3ECSmJ3⁠ Subscribe on Spotify: ⁠https://bit.ly/4hzy9lH⁠ -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: ⁠https://blockworks.co/newsletter/⁠ -- (00:00) Introduction (00:48) State of The Market (13:15) Are L1s Still Overvalued? (22:50) The Hyperliquid End Game (31:38) Bitcoin’s Quantum Threat (36:42) Ethereum’s L2 Roadmap -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, the Hivemind team, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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Empire features interviews with top crypto founders to get the real stories that aren’t shared elsewhere. Empire is your look behind the curtain of the crypto industry. We release two episodes per week: guest interviews on Monday and a weekly roundup on Friday.