MemCast
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Hyperliquid built its own L1 because existing chains lacked high‑performance order‑book support
  • Existing smart‑contract platforms provide generic compute but not the low‑latency order‑book needed for a perpetual exchange.
  • The team engineered a bespoke L1 with native financial primitives to meet these performance demands.
  • This decision avoided the compromises of building on top of sub‑optimal infrastructure.
  • It also positions Hyperliquid as a foundational layer rather than a layer‑2 on an existing chain.
Jeff YanWhen Shift Happens53:55:00

Supporting quotes

we built our own L1 because existing chains didn't provide the needed order‑book performance Jeff Yan
Explaining why a new chain was necessary
none of them really did it in a way that lets you build and change on top Jeff Yan
Critiquing other blockchains

From this concept

First-Principles Engineering: Questioning Conventional Wisdom

Jeff emphasizes building from first principles, rejecting standard scaling playbooks, and constructing a bespoke L1 because existing chains lack the required performance. This mindset drives Hyperliquid's unique infrastructure and its focus on the right primitives for finance.

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