Yeliz Akmaca 
The Hyperliquid Foundation has donated 10,000 HYPE tokens to onchain investigator ZachXBT. Valued at approximately $254,000, the transfer stands out not only for its size but also for its timing.
The donation was sent directly to ZachXBT’s publicly known donation address and later confirmed by the investigator himself. With this move, Hyperliquid became the second-largest donor ZachXBT has received to date.
The Timing Raises More Questions Than Answers
In recent months, ZachXBT has intensified his focus on suspicious activity across decentralized exchanges and derivatives platforms. The Hyperliquid donation arriving during this heightened scrutiny period suggests a subtle shift in how major protocols position themselves amid growing transparency demands.
Rather than a simple act of support, the contribution reflects a broader institutional acknowledgment of the role independent onchain investigators now play. For high-volume protocols, external scrutiny is no longer optional — it has become part of the risk landscape.
ZachXBT Clarifies His Largest Supporters
Following the Hyperliquid donation, ZachXBT also disclosed a list of his most significant contributors so far. Notable names include Optimism, Octant, Arbitrum, BNB Chain, and Nouns. Additional supporters such as Unipcs, CL207, The White Whale, and High Stakes Capital further underline the diversity of backing behind onchain investigations.
The picture that emerges is clear: blockchain research and investigative work are no longer sustained by individual efforts alone. Protocols and communities are increasingly stepping in, driven by reputational exposure and long-term credibility concerns.
Transparency Gains Ground as Power Dynamics Shift
A donation of this scale inevitably revives long-standing debates around conflicts of interest in decentralized finance. Where support ends and influence begins remains an open question — one that is likely to resurface as similar contributions follow.
Still, the broader signal is hard to ignore. Onchain investigations have evolved into a force capable of reshaping behavior across the ecosystem. For major protocols, remaining silent may now carry greater risks than engaging openly.
How this trend develops — and whether other investigators will receive comparable backing — is set to become a key narrative in the months ahead.
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