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K
Liquid Staking

Kinetiq kHYPE

Best for independently tracked protocol

Total value locked:$783m at this checkChains:1Audits recorded:0Audit report linked:Not foundRubric:v2.0 · verified 9 Aug 2026
Kayla PetersonKayla PetersonDeFi Research Analyst· Last verified August 9, 2026
Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026
5.4
out of 10
Open account
Scorecard

How it rates

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%4.0
Cost transparency · 20%7.0
Market quality · 15%5.0
Transparency & track record · 20%6.0
Public documentation surface · 10%6.0
Pros
  • TVL of $783m recorded independently
Cons
  • No audit report linked in the public dataset at this check
  • No accounting methodology published at this check
  • Single-chain deployment
How this score was built

Each indicator scores 2, 1 or 0. A pillar is the points earned over the points available; the overall score is the weighted sum. Every source below is public — check any of them yourself.

Counterparty & contract risk · 35% weight4/10 points · 4.0/10
Cost transparency · 20% weight7/10 points · 7.0/10
Market quality · 15% weight5/10 points · 5.0/10
Transparency & track record · 20% weight6/10 points · 6.0/10
Public documentation surface · 10% weight6/10 points · 6.0/10

A liquid staking protocol holding $783m on a purpose-built trading chain, with no audit report retrievable at a public address at this check.

Our assessment

Kinetiq's kHYPE holds $783m — a large position — as the liquid staking layer on a purpose-built trading chain. No audit report was retrievable at a public address at this check.

Staking a chain whose value is its trading venue

On a network built around a single dominant application, the staked token's value tracks that application's success rather than a diversified base of activity. Staking yield, token price and ecosystem health all move together, which means the position is more concentrated than a staking derivative on a general-purpose chain.

Fast growth, short history

$783m accumulated quickly. Rapid growth attracts attention from attackers and outpaces the operational maturity that normally accompanies a position of that size. The riskiest moment for any protocol is its first genuine stress event, and a young protocol holding a large balance has not had one.

The evidence gap

No audit report at a public address, with thin transparency results. In a category where contract risk carries 35% of the weight, that is the dominant factor in the score — and it would be straightforward to fix.

Who it suits

kHYPE fits users already committed to its chain who want liquid staking there and accept unaudited contracts. Users wanting published review should stake on chains where protocols publish it.

Alternatives

How rivals compare

ServiceScoreBest for
Lido9.6audited protocol with published methodologyRead →
Stader9.5audited protocol with published methodologyRead →
StakeWise V29.4audited protocol with published methodologyRead →
Reference

Frequently asked

Does this score mean Kinetiq kHYPE is safe?

No. It measures what an outsider can verify: linked audits, published methodology and independently recorded market data. Contract risk is not tested by us.

Where do the TVL and audit figures come from?

A public analytics dataset queried at the verification date, plus the audit reports it links. Both are re-runnable by anyone.

Why do some protocols score zero on audits?

Because no audit report is linked in the public record. The indicator records what a user can reach, not a claim that no audit exists.