Early adopters of Hyperliquid, a layer-1 blockchain specializing in perpetuals, experienced significant rewards following the airdrop of the highly anticipated Hypurr non-fungible token (NFT) collection by the Hyper Foundation on Sunday.

The Hypurr NFTs, which depict cartoon cat avatars with a variety of traits, were deployed on HyperEVM on September 28, 2025. A total of 4,600 NFTs were issued, with 4,313 allocated to participants of the "Genesis" event from November 2024, which revolved around the launch of the HYPE token. The remaining NFTs were divided between the Hyper Foundation and core project contributors.

Data from OpenSea indicates a current floor price of approximately 1,458 Hyperliquid (HYPE), or $68,700, for the Hypurr NFTs. However, some sales have far exceeded this valuation. On September 28, Hypurr #21, featuring the rare "Knight Ghost Armor" and "Knight Helm Ghost" traits, was sold for 9,999 HYPE, equivalent to $467,000. Prior to the launch, demand was so high that certain NFTs were reportedly sold for as much as $88,000 via OTC desks earlier in September, according to DripTrade data.

The remarkable value of these airdropped NFTs, essentially free digital cat pictures worth more than some individuals' annual salaries, has sparked discussion within the cryptocurrency community. One X user, MoonOverlord, noted the contrast between the struggles of average individuals and the seemingly effortless gains of some crypto participants. DidiTrading expressed surprise at receiving a Hypurr NFT valued at $50,000 and indicated plans to observe the market before deciding what to do with it.

Cathie Wood stated that Hyperliquid reminded her of Solana in its earlier days.

The distribution of Hypurr NFTs primarily targeted active participants in the Genesis event in November 2024. This event centered around the launch of the HYPE token. The airdrop served as a reward for early engagement with the Hyperliquid platform.