What is HyperEVM?
HyperEVM is a general-purpose Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) execution layer natively integrated into the Hyperliquid blockchain. It enables developers to deploy Solidity-based applications that directly interact with Hyperliquid’s trading engine. Unlike typical EVM-compatible chains, HyperEVM is not siloed from trading activity; it shares both state and consensus with HyperCore, Hyperliquid’s ultra-fast, on-chain order book engine. This deep integration unlocks an entirely new level of composability between smart contracts and real-time trading infrastructure.
HyperEVM in Context
Hyperliquid originally launched with two foundational components: HyperBFT, its custom consensus mechanism offering ~0.2-second block finality, and HyperCore, its fully on-chain perpetual and spot trading engine. Together, they provided a high-performance environment for decentralized trading.
HyperBFT: A custom consensus algorithm inspired by Hotstuff, providing ~0.2 s block finality
HyperCore: The fully on-chain perpetual futures and spot trading engine, maintaining transparent order books with one-block finality
Introducing HyperEVM adds a powerful third layer, bridging these trading primitives with full smart contract functionality. For the first time, developers can deploy Solidity contracts that interact directly with live order books and margin systems without relying on oracles, bridges, or external data layers.
HyperEVM: A fully EVM-compatible smart contract platform, integrated directly with Hyperliquid’s trading infrastructure
In essence: Hyperliquid = HyperCore + HyperEVM
Hyperliquid made waves with its groundbreaking tagline “CEX‑experience DEX.” According to PerpetualPulse.xyz, Hyperliquid now leads the space with approximately $13 billion. In trading volume, far surpassing competitors like Jupiter ($1.8 B), Lighter ($687 M), and Vertex Edge ($629 M). Behind those figures lies a network built from the ground up for speed, liquidity, and developer flexibility.
Hyperliquid started as a purpose‑built Layer 1 blockchain specifically designed for high‑performance trading. Its initial focus was on creating a decentralized perpetual exchange through HyperCore, which has gained significant market share by offering features that rival centralized exchanges: a large number of tradable assets, fast (gasless) transaction submission, and an optimized trading terminal with advanced order types like scaled orders and TWAPs. Sub‑second finality is provided by HyperBFT, which settles blocks in roughly 0.2 seconds.
On February 18, 2025, Hyperliquid took a decisive leap forward by directly embedding a fully compatible Ethereum Virtual Machine, HyperEVM, into its Layer 1 execution layer. Unlike typical EVM rollups or sidechains, HyperEVM shares the identical global state and security guarantees of HyperCore under HyperBFT consensus. That means every trade, margin update, or contract call is processed atomically, with no need for external oracles, bridges, or cross‑chain messaging.
Deep Dive into HyperEVM
Hyperliquid’s architecture merges high-speed trading with the flexibility of programmable smart contracts. At its core, it runs two tightly integrated execution environments: HyperCore, a high-performance, permissioned trading engine responsible for order books, margining, and liquidations, and HyperEVM, a permissionless, EVM-compatible layer for deploying smart contracts, tokens, and DeFi protocols. Both operate under HyperBFT, a purpose-built proof-of-stake consensus protocol optimized for high throughput and deterministic finality.
What sets HyperEVM apart is its native integration. Unlike other EVM environments that operate as siloed chains or Layer-2 solutions, HyperEVM shares the same global state and consensus layer as HyperCore. This unified design allows developers to build decentralized applications using familiar Ethereum tooling, such as Solidity, Hardhat, Foundry, and MetaMask, while gaining direct access to real-time trading infrastructure and liquidity.
With purpose-built precompiles, smart contracts on HyperEVM can read on-chain trading data such as live order book depths, perpetual positions, and margin states. Developers no longer need to rely on oracles or off-chain services, significantly reducing complexity and potential points of failure. This tight coupling between execution and trading layers opens the door to high-precision financial applications that are both secure and capital efficient.
Key Features of HyperEVM
Dual‑Block Architecture
HyperEVM employs a dual-block architecture to support both low-latency interactions and complex contract execution. A “small” block is produced every two seconds, optimized for lightweight operations and gas efficiency, with a gas limit of approximately 2 million. Every 60 seconds, a “big” block allows for heavy-duty computations, supporting up to 30 million gas. This design decouples block frequency from block capacity, giving developers the flexibility to scale execution-heavy strategies without compromising network responsiveness.
Performance and Execution
Hyperliquid’s underlying consensus mechanism, HyperBFT, is derived from the HotStuff protocol and engineered for sub-second block finality. While current bottlenecks lie in execution rather than networking or consensus, the protocol is built to scale as optimizations are rolled out. It can handle millions of orders per second, making it well-positioned to support the next wave of high-throughput DeFi and trading applications.
Seamless Trading Integration
One of HyperEVM’s most powerful features is native access to HyperCore’s deep liquidity. Smart contracts can directly interact with on-chain order books, enabling gas-efficient, composable trading flows without bridges or routing layers. A vault, for example, can adjust its strategy based on real-time profit and loss data from live perpetual positions. Developers and users benefit from a shared wallet and account system, ensuring cohesive interactions between trading and contract layers with no cross-chain friction.
Upgraded Fee Burn Model
HyperEVM introduces an enhanced version of the EIP-1559 fee burn mechanism to align economic incentives and improve long-term sustainability. Base fees and priority tips collected on small and big blocks are permanently burned. Powered by HyperBFT’s deterministic finality, this mechanism promotes predictable fee markets and ensures token scarcity, reinforcing the value of the native asset over time.
Getting Started with HyperEVM
Since HyperEVM is fully compatible with the standard Ethereum development stack, developers can use familiar tools like Solidity, Hardhat, Foundry, MetaMask, and Chainlist to build and deploy applications seamlessly. Running directly on Layer 1 and secured by HyperBFT, HyperEVM offers the performance and reliability of Hyperliquid’s high-throughput architecture. $HYPE serves as the native gas token for transactions within the EVM environment.
With HyperEVM, builders can launch ERC-20 tokens and immediately list them on HyperCore’s permissionless spot auction system—no centralized exchange, listing fees, or bridges. DeFi protocols like lending markets can use precompiled functions to read price data and execute liquidations directly on HyperCore order books. GameFi and NFT projects can mint ERC-721 and ERC-1155 assets using EVM standards, while leveraging HyperCore’s liquidity for in-game economies.
For example, a project launching token XYZ could deploy an ERC-20 contract on HyperEVM, permissionlessly list it on HyperCore via a spot auction, and allow users to trade it and use it across EVM-based applications, all in the same environment, with no bridging risk. This seamless interaction is a major improvement over centralized exchange workflows, offering true decentralization without compromising performance.
Hyperliquid Ecosystem
The Hyperliquid ecosystem has grown since the launch of HyperEVM, empowering more builders to plug into mature, liquid, and high-performance on-chain order books powered by HyperCore and HyperEVM.
Tools for HyperEVM Builders
Various teams are already building applications, tools, and infrastructure on HyperEVM. The community actively tracks new releases through directories like:
HypurrCo
ASXN
Hyperliquid.wiki
For step-by-step guidance, refer to the onboarding FAQ, which walks through wallet setup, contract deployment, and basic interaction with HyperEVM.
At the core of it all is the RPC — your gateway to the network. Use the following endpoints to start building:
EVM RPCs:
EVM RPCs with archive node support:
You can also find a full list of other tools and resources in the HyperEVM documentation.
HyperEVM for Blockchain Finance
Hyperliquid’s integration of HyperCore and HyperEVM under a single HyperBFT consensus represents a fundamental rethinking of blockchain architecture for financial applications. Eliminating boundaries between trading engines and smart‑contract environments unlocks new possibilities for DeFi, combining the performance of centralized exchanges with blockchain’s composability and transparency.
HyperEVM is a major leap forward in DeFi infrastructure. It brings together Ethereum's developer familiarity and flexibility with the speed, execution quality, and liquidity depth typically found in centralized platforms, all while staying fully on-chain. There are no fragmented liquidity pools, no reliance on fragile oracles, no costly bridges, and no unnecessary friction.
