Staking · Review
ActiveKinetiq kHYPE Review 2026: Liquid Staking on Hyperliquid
Kinetiq is a non-custodial liquid staking protocol on Hyperliquid where users stake HYPE and receive kHYPE, a yield-bearing token usable in DeFi. It holds about $883 million in TVL, but fees and unstaking details are not published publicly.
By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated
DappsAtlas score
7.8/10
Good
Our verdict on Kinetiq kHYPE
7.8/10Kinetiq suits HYPE holders who want staking rewards while keeping a liquid token for use in Hyperliquid DeFi. Its main strengths are its scale, with about $883 million in TVL, and its stated audits and $1M bug bounty. The main caveat is that fees, unstaking terms and the audit claim are not verifiable from public information here, and the position carries smart-contract and single-chain risk. Check the docs and audit reports before staking.
Score breakdown
How Kinetiq kHYPE scores
- Security
- 7.5/10
- Ease of use
- 8.0/10
- Fees
- n/a
- Features
- n/a
Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.
What is Kinetiq kHYPE?
Kinetiq is a non-custodial liquid staking protocol on Hyperliquid L1. Users stake HYPE and receive kHYPE, a yield-bearing token that can be used across DeFi. DefiLlama tracks about $883 million in TVL, up 4.1% over seven days, and lists the protocol since July 2025.
Beyond the core product, Kinetiq's homepage lists Markets.xyz, a venue for perpetual futures on equities, indices, currencies and commodities, and iHYPE, a liquid staking product for regulated institutions. It also has a token, KNTQ.
The homepage claims 8 audits and a $1M bug bounty. DefiLlama lists no audits, so readers should verify the audit reports themselves.
How Kinetiq kHYPE works
You deposit HYPE, the native token of Hyperliquid, into Kinetiq and receive kHYPE. The HYPE is staked with validators on Hyperliquid L1 to earn network staking rewards. Because kHYPE is a yield-bearing token, its value reflects those rewards.
Kinetiq says an autonomous scoring system picks the highest-performing validators and spreads the stake among them. This aims to raise yield while still securing the network.
Since kHYPE is a normal token, it can be used elsewhere in DeFi, for example as collateral or in liquidity pools, while the underlying HYPE keeps earning. Each extra use adds its own risk.
7 features
Key features
01
Liquid staking for HYPE
Stake HYPE and receive kHYPE, a yield-bearing token that stays liquid while the underlying HYPE earns rewards.
02
Autonomous validator scoring
A validator scoring and stake distribution system delegates HYPE to the highest-performing validators to maximise yield.
03
DeFi integrations
kHYPE is integrated with protocols across Hyperliquid, giving holders earn opportunities beyond base staking.
04
Audits and bug bounty
Kinetiq says its codebase has 8 security audits and a $1M bug bounty, described as the largest on Hyperliquid.
05
Institutional iHYPE
iHYPE offers compliant, customizable, custody-integrated liquid staking rails for regulated entities and enterprises.
06
Markets.xyz perps
Trade perpetual futures on equities, indices, currencies and commodities 24/7, powered by Hyperliquid.
07
Portfolio and validator views
A portfolio page and a validator status view let users see their positions and recent validator blocks.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Non-custodial design for staking HYPE.
- kHYPE stays liquid and can be used in Hyperliquid DeFi.
- Large TVL of about $883 million suggests significant adoption.
- Homepage cites 8 audits and a $1M bug bounty.
- Automated validator scoring spreads stake across performing validators.
- Institutional iHYPE option for regulated entities.
Watch out for
- Smart-contract risk: kHYPE depends on Kinetiq's contracts and on Hyperliquid L1 working as intended.
- Value is concentrated on a single chain and a single staked asset (HYPE), so there is no diversification.
- Validator selection is automated by Kinetiq's own scoring system, which users must trust.
- The homepage mentions 8 audits, but DefiLlama lists none, so the audit claim cannot be checked from public sources alone.
- Exact fees, unstaking times and current APY are not stated publicly and have to be checked in the app.
- Side products such as Markets.xyz perpetuals and iHYPE add scope and risk beyond plain staking.
Kinetiq kHYPE fees
The project does not publish Kinetiq's fee schedule. Staking protocols commonly take a share of staking rewards, but the amount is not stated here, so none is quoted.
Users should check the app and docs for the current protocol fee, APY and any unstaking terms before depositing. Network gas on Hyperliquid also applies.
Is Kinetiq kHYPE safe?
Kinetiq says its code has been audited 8 times and runs a $1M bug bounty. DefiLlama lists no audits for it, so the audit reports should be checked independently. The protocol is non-custodial, but you still rely on smart contracts, validator behaviour and Hyperliquid L1 itself.
No incidents are mentioned publicly. Liquid staking tokens can also lose value relative to the underlying asset in stressed markets, and integrations in other protocols add further risk. Regulatory status is not stated publicly.
6 steps
How to get started with Kinetiq kHYPE
- 1
Get HYPE and a wallet compatible with Hyperliquid.
- 2
Open the Kinetiq site and go to the Stake page.
- 3
Review the displayed APY and read the docs on fees and unstaking.
- 4
Stake HYPE and receive kHYPE in your wallet.
- 5
Optionally use kHYPE in integrated Hyperliquid DeFi protocols, after checking each one's risks.
- 6
Track your position on the Portfolio page.
Who Kinetiq kHYPE is for
Kinetiq is for HYPE holders who want staking yield without locking up their tokens, and for DeFi users on Hyperliquid who want a yield-bearing collateral asset. Institutions can look at iHYPE. It is less suited to anyone who wants chain diversification or cannot accept smart-contract risk.
Kinetiq kHYPE FAQs
What is kHYPE?
kHYPE is a liquid staking token issued by Kinetiq when you stake HYPE on Hyperliquid L1. It represents your staked HYPE and its staking rewards, and it can be used in other DeFi protocols.
How do I stake HYPE with Kinetiq?
You stake HYPE through the Kinetiq app and receive kHYPE in return. Your HYPE is delegated to validators chosen by Kinetiq's scoring system, and rewards are reflected in the yield-bearing kHYPE.
Is Kinetiq safe?
Kinetiq describes itself as non-custodial, and its homepage says the codebase has been audited 8 times and runs a $1M bug bounty. DefiLlama lists no audits, and any smart-contract protocol carries risk, so only stake what you can afford to lose.
What is the KNTQ token?
KNTQ is Kinetiq's token, listed on DefiLlama. The project does not describe its utility or distribution in detail, so check the project's docs before relying on it.
What APY does kHYPE earn?
The homepage shows a live APY figure, but its value is not public, so it is not quoted here. Check the app for the current rate, because staking yields change over time.
What is Markets.xyz?
Markets.xyz is a Kinetiq product for trading perpetual futures on equities, indices, currencies and commodities around the clock, powered by Hyperliquid. It is separate from liquid staking and carries leverage risk.
Compare
Kinetiq kHYPE alternatives
SSV Network is a distributed validator technology layer for Ethereum staking, used by exchanges, custodians, staking services and node operators.
stHYPE is a liquid staking token for HYPE on Hyperliquid, run by Valantis, for holders who want staking yield while keeping a tradable token.
Obol builds Distributed Validator technology that splits Ethereum validators across operator clusters, for stakers, operators and institutions.
Babylon is a Bitcoin collateral infrastructure project that lets holders stake native BTC or use it as collateral without wrapping or bridging.
Jito Liquid Staking lets Solana users stake SOL for JitoSOL, a liquid token that accrues staking and MEV rewards.
ether.fi Stake is a non-custodial Ethereum liquid staking protocol with an app for earning, borrowing and spending, for ETH holders comfortable with DeFi risk.
Same category
More Staking dApps
Marinade is a Solana staking protocol offering native and liquid staking (mSOL) via an auction where validators bid for delegated SOL.
BlazeStake is a non-custodial Solana liquid staking protocol that issues bSOL, for SOL holders wanting staking yield and DeFi use.
Liquid Collective is a non-custodial Ethereum liquid staking protocol issuing LsETH, designed mainly for institutions and compliance-focused stakers.
Ankr is a Web3 infrastructure provider offering multichain RPC, rollup services and liquid staking for stakers, developers and enterprises.
Sanctum Validator LSTs are Solana liquid staking tokens from SanctumSPL stake pools, for SOL holders and teams launching custom LSTs.
mETH Protocol is a non-custodial ETH liquid staking protocol on Ethereum, governed by Mantle, for ETH holders who want yield and a liquid receipt token.
Same chain
More on Hyperliquid L1
Uniswap V4 is the latest Uniswap DEX version with hooks and concentrated liquidity, running on 22 chains for self-custody token swaps and liquidity provision.
LayerZero V2 is a cross-chain messaging protocol and bridge infrastructure for developers and asset issuers, connecting dozens of blockchains.
Morpho Blue is a permissionless lending primitive with about $11.4 billion in TVL on DefiLlama, accessed mainly through curated vaults.
Euler V2 is a modular DeFi lending protocol for lenders, borrowers and market curators, with about $268M TVL across 16 chains.
Across is an intent-based cross-chain bridge and swap protocol for moving tokens between Ethereum, rollups and other chains, with an API for apps.
Sablier Lockup is an audited onchain protocol for token vesting, payroll, grants and airdrops, aimed at DAOs and businesses across many chains.
How we checked
Sources
Last updated . Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.