Hyperliquid Wallet Security Checklist \[2026 Updated\]

Why this checklist matters in 2026

Self-custody is the core promise of DeFi, but it also means you are the security perimeter. In late 2025, a trader reportedly lost about $21 million after a private key leak tied to activity around Hyperdrive, reminding the industry (again) that a single compromised key can invalidate every other safety measure you thought you had in place (Cointelegraph coverage).

At the same time, on-chain crime data shows scams scaling fast: Chainalysis estimated $17B stolen in crypto scams and fraud in 2025, driven by impersonation and AI enablement (Chainalysis). For active traders, the practical takeaway is simple: your biggest risks are no longer “only” smart contract bugs — they’re phishing, fake interfaces, malicious signatures, and compromised devices.

This checklist focuses on security best practices and protection measures you can apply before you connect a wallet, deposit collateral, or authorize any trading / bot access.

Threat model (what you’re defending against)

1) Phishing and lookalike domains

Attackers increasingly rely on ads, SEO, fake social accounts, and “support” impersonation to push users to a clone site, then trick them into signing approvals or exporting secrets.

2) Risky signatures (gasless doesn’t mean harmless)

Many platforms use gasless signatures for convenience (e.g., “enable trading” flows). A signature is not automatically safe just because it is not a paid transaction.

3) Token approvals and “drainers”

Unlimited allowances can let a malicious contract spend your tokens later, even after you “disconnect” the site.

4) Browser extension / endpoint compromise

In 2025, researchers reported campaigns where malicious browser add-ons targeted crypto users and stole credentials (TechRadar summary).

5) API / agent wallet leakage

If you automate trading, your operational key management becomes part of your wallet security posture. The official docs explicitly warn: do not share your private key (official docs).

Security checklist (use this before every deposit or trading session)

1) Verify the destination (URL first, wallet second)

• Bookmark the official trading interface and only use the bookmark thereafter: app.hyperliquid.xyz
• Verify you’re reading the correct documentation (avoid random “guides” in search results): official docs
• Treat DMs as hostile by default. If someone claims to be “support,” assume it’s impersonation until proven otherwise (this matches how modern scams scale, per Chainalysis’ impersonation findings: Chainalysis).

Quick rule: if you arrived via an ad or a link in a message, stop and re-open from your bookmark.

2) Split funds by purpose (blast-radius control)

Use at least two addresses:

• Trading wallet: only what you can afford to expose to dApps, signatures, approvals, and automation.
• Vault / savings wallet: long-term holdings that rarely connects anywhere.

This structure limits damage if the trading environment is compromised.

3) If you use email-based login, secure your email like it’s a private key

If you rely on email access, your email account becomes a control plane. Minimum hardening:

• Enable multi-factor authentication and prefer app-based or phishing-resistant methods when available (CISA MFA guidance).
• Use unique passwords + a password manager.
• Store recovery codes offline.

For deeper authentication rigor, NIST highlights that passwords and common OTP methods are not phishing-resistant, while cryptographic methods can be (NIST SP 800-63B authenticators).

4) Keep your keys offline (and keep your “hot” environment disposable)

A hardware wallet is still one of the best defenses against raw private key theft because the key never needs to exist on your daily-use computer.

If you choose to use OneKey for long-term storage, the key advantage is straightforward and practical: private keys stay on the device and transactions require physical confirmation, which reduces the chance that malware can silently exfiltrate secrets.

Important nuance: hardware wallets do not automatically protect you from malicious approvals you sign yourself (see approval risks explained by Revoke.cash: Revoke.cash).

5) Read every signature and transaction like a security engineer

Before approving anything:

• Confirm the domain you’re interacting with.
• Confirm whether you are signing a message vs sending an on-chain transaction.
• Be suspicious of:
  • “Security upgrade” prompts
  • “Verify wallet” loops
  • Unexpected signature requests right after page load
  • “Airdrop claim” pages that ask for approvals

If the wallet prompt is unclear, cancel, refresh, and re-open from your bookmark.

6) Treat token approvals as ongoing liabilities (revoke regularly)

Do this as routine wallet hygiene:

• Audit and revoke allowances you don’t need using:
  • Revoke.cash
  • Etherscan Token Approval Checker

Best practices:

• Avoid unlimited approvals when a custom amount works.
• Revoke approvals after you finish using a feature, especially if you won’t return soon.
• If you suspect you signed something malicious, revoking approvals is a damage containment step (it won’t recover already-stolen funds).

7) If you automate trading, isolate your “agent wallet” from your main wallet

If you run bots or connect third-party tooling, do not expose your primary key. Use dedicated signing keys and minimize privileges.

The docs describe API wallets (agent wallets) that can sign on behalf of a master account (official API wallet docs). Practical safeguards:

• Generate a separate agent key per bot / process (do not reuse one key everywhere).
• Store the agent key in a secrets manager, not in plaintext .env files on shared machines.
• Rotate keys after any device compromise or team access change.
• Remove / replace unused agent keys to reduce attack surface (fewer active keys, fewer ways in).

8) Harden your browser and device (extensions are part of your wallet)

Given repeated reports of malicious add-ons impacting crypto users (TechRadar):

• Use a dedicated browser profile only for crypto.
• Install as few extensions as possible (ideally none beyond necessities).
• Keep OS and browser updated.
• If you suspect a malicious extension, remove it and follow official reporting / remediation steps (Mozilla guidance).

9) Deposit / withdraw safely (assume copy-paste can be attacked)

• Start with a small test amount when using a new route.
• Verify addresses on-screen and in your wallet confirmation UI.
• Follow official onboarding / bridging instructions, not third-party screenshots (official onboarding guide).

10) Prepare an incident response plan (before you need it)

If something feels wrong (unexpected signatures, unknown approvals, “stuck” UI that keeps prompting):

• Stop trading immediately.
• Revoke recent approvals (Revoke.cash / Etherscan checker).
• Move remaining funds to a safer address you control (preferably your cold wallet).
• Assume the device may be compromised; switch to a clean environment before continuing.

60-second pre-trade checklist (copy/paste)

• [ ] Open the trading site from a bookmark (not from search / ads)
• [ ] Confirm domain and HTTPS
• [ ] Trading wallet has only the amount you’re willing to expose
• [ ] No new extensions installed since last session
• [ ] Read the wallet prompt: message signature vs transaction
• [ ] After use, revoke unnecessary approvals

Closing: a practical way to level up your crypto security

Most real-world losses come from operational failures (phishing, approvals, endpoint compromise), not from obscure cryptography. If you adopt only two habits in 2026, make them these:

1. keep your long-term funds in a cold setup (a hardware wallet such as OneKey can help keep private keys off your daily machine), and
2. treat approvals and signatures as ongoing risk — review and revoke them regularly.