Famous crypto analyst and former BitMEX exchange CEO Arthur Hayes has announced that he has completely exited his positions in NEAR Protocol (NEAR) and Hyperliquid (HYPE). In his opinion, now is the best time to lock in profits, considering the expected market volatility in the coming months.
This is reported by Finway
NEAR and HYPE Dynamics: Record Performance and Pullback
Hayes has repeatedly expressed support for altcoins, particularly Hyperliquid. During the Consensus Miami 2026 conference, he emphasized the strong business strategy of the project. Hyperliquid is a decentralized derivatives exchange that combines not only cryptocurrency but also traditional financial assets.
Previously, Hayes predicted the HYPE token would rise to $150, and on June 1, 2026, HYPE reached an all-time high, rising above $70 and entering the top 8 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. After that, several sharp jumps were recorded, including above $75, but a pullback followed due to a general market correction.
The NEAR token also showed positive dynamics: on June 3, its price exceeded $3, but later it fell in line with the market trend. The main reason for the rise was the NEAR team’s plans to implement post-quantum cryptography aimed at enhancing network security. Testing of the innovations is expected to take place by the end of June.
Reasons for Hayes’ Exit: Geopolitics, Energy Resources, and AI IPOs
Despite the decline, both assets remain in a growth phase. Arthur Hayes explained his exit from positions as a desire to secure profits before the onset of a period of increased turbulence, which he predicts in the coming months. In his view, the decision is influenced by several factors:
- Rising energy prices due to escalating relations between the US and Iran and stock replenishment.
- Three major AI IPOs are expected before the start of the third quarter of 2026 — SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
- There is a possibility that Trump will take an “anti-AI” stance to secure Republican support in the midterm elections.
- The maximum market peak, according to Hayes, is expected between June and September 2026.
“I just sold all my positions in HYPE and NEAR; I will explain the reasons in detail in the essay ‘Reality Test’, which will be released next Tuesday. In short: rising energy prices due to the war with Iran and stock replenishment, three major AI IPOs before the start of Q3, the forecast that Trump will take an anti-AI position to win…”
After exiting the assets, Hayes clarified that he does not withdraw his support for Hyperliquid and plans to return to investing in the future.
Experts from Presto Research also indicate that the correction of Bitcoin and other assets is partly related to the capital flow into precious metals and the AI sector, especially ahead of the expected IPOs.
Regarding the possible “anti-AI” position of Trump, such expectations were expressed as early as the beginning of 2026, as some voters fear excessive technological influence, the potential emergence of a bubble, and issues with the energy system due to the active construction of data centers in the US.
Arthur Hayes promised to explain his decision in detail in a new essay, which will be published soon.