Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, announced a complete exit from his positions in NEAR and HYPE tokens, citing multiple macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds ahead.
Hayes attributed his decision to take profits to three primary concerns: rising energy costs stemming from Iran-related geopolitical tensions that could intensify inflation, three major artificial intelligence sector initial public offerings expected before the third quarter, and potential policy shifts by Donald Trump toward stricter AI regulation ahead of midterm elections. These factors, in Hayes' assessment, create conditions for market pullbacks between now and September.
The move marks a shift in positioning for the prominent trader, who has previously signaled bullish sentiment on both tokens. Hayes' exit adds to growing caution among institutional crypto participants as macroeconomic uncertainty and regulatory scrutiny of AI-related assets weigh on market sentiment.