The $292 million Kelp DAO exploit just became the largest DeFi hack of 2026, but the broader crypto market extended its recovery with Bitcoin pushing past $76,000 on institutional inflows. Many investors exploring the hyperliquid price prediction are pivoting toward presale entries to position around short term volatility.
Pepeto, having raised $9.3 million, is drawing attention because it carries a confirmed Binance listing and a working exchange, while the PepetoAI risk scorer gives wallets a tool the Kelp victims did not have.
$292 Million Kelp DAO Exploit Becomes Largest DeFi Hack of 2026
An attacker drained 116,500 rsETH from Kelp DAO’s LayerZero bridge on April 18, worth roughly $292 million according to CoinDesk. LayerZero attributed the exploit to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, and Aave froze rsETH markets within hours.
CoinMarketCap reported the hack wiped $8 billion from Aave’s total value locked, sending AAVE down nearly 20% in 25 hours. The attack confirms that any wallet without proper risk assessment tools before entering a position is exposed to losses no recovery can reverse.
Hyperliquid Price Prediction and Presale Returns: Top Crypto Picks
Pepeto
The DeFi correction proves that limiting capital to major coins does not protect wallets from protocol level failures, which is why presales with working products and confirmed listings present a different kind of opportunity. Pepeto is a valid pick for the hyperliquid price prediction crowd because the conviction is visible in $9.3 million raised while other projects struggle to hold value.
The real difference is the product. The PepetoAI risk scorer analyzes every trade from entry to exit, flagging the kind of contract vulnerabilities that the Kelp exploit used to drain wallets that had no warning.
A zero fee swap engine sits alongside it, removing the trading costs that eat into returns on every other exchange. The mind behind the original Pepe coin built this protocol with a former Binance expert, and a SolidProof audit cleared every contract before the presale opened.
Every service runs from a working exchange that holders use today, not a roadmap promise. The fundamentals carry the product depth that could drive mass adoption once the Binance listing converts presale holders into open market participants, and wallets entering at $0.0000001865 position for the return that prints when that first candle opens.
Hyperliquid (HYPE)
HYPE trades near $41 after rejecting the $50 resistance zone, falling roughly 5% from its recent high. The token rose from $21 at the start of 2026, driven by $3.64 trillion in total trading volume and the Assistance Fund buyback that uses 97% of revenue to buy and burn HYPE daily.
Grayscale filed a HYPE ETF amendment with the SEC, and 21Shares seeks a Nasdaq listing. Resistance sits at $44 to $46 with support near $38, and the all time high of $59.37 means a full recovery delivers roughly 45%, strong for a DeFi token but defined by the billions already priced into its $10 billion market cap.
BNB
BNB trades near $628 after holding steady through the DeFi contagion from the Kelp DAO exploit. Binance continues to dominate global spot and derivatives volume, and BNB’s quarterly burn reduced circulating supply by over $1 billion in Q1 2026.
The token sits roughly 18% below its all time high near $762, and while the ecosystem strength is undeniable, the path from $628 to that peak delivers a measured return reflecting BNB’s maturity rather than early stage math.
Conclusion
The hyperliquid price prediction is bullish because HYPE built a real exchange that processes trillions in volume, and the buyback creates permanent demand most tokens will never have.
But portfolio changing gains come from coins before they list, not from waiting on a $10 billion asset to grind back toward old highs. The same wallets that bought Solana at $0.22 before anyone knew the name, turning small entries into returns that paid for everything else, are already buying Pepeto because they recognize the setup.
Pepeto has $9.3 million raised with a SolidProof audit and a Binance listing on the calendar, and those early wallets spot these opportunities better than anyone.
Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale
FAQs
What is the hyperliquid price prediction for 2026?
Analysts project HYPE could trade between $25 and $90 in 2026 according to CoinPedia, with resistance at $44 to $46 and an all time high of $59.37 from September 2025.
How does the $292M Kelp DAO hack affect DeFi confidence?
The exploit drained 116,500 rsETH through a bridge vulnerability, wiped $8 billion from Aave’s TVL, and proved that wallets without trade risk tools remain exposed.
Which hyperliquid price prediction entry offers the strongest return potential?
HYPE delivers buyback pressure at a $10 billion valuation, but Pepeto at presale pricing offers listing math that large caps cannot replicate, with a confirmed Binance listing compressing the timeline.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry risk, including total loss of capital. Readers should conduct independent research and consult licensed advisors before making any financial decisions.
This publication is strictly informational and does not promote or solicit investment in any digital asset
All market analysis and token data are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Readers should conduct independent research and consult licensed advisors before investing.
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