This is the end-to-end map for a common beginner path: get funds onto Hyperliquid, reach HyperEVM, and buy HAM on Hyperham. It assumes you’ve never done any of this before.
Already on Hyperliquid with USDC? Jump to step 3.
Step 1 — Get USDC onto Hyperliquid
Hyperliquid is its own ecosystem. Coins sitting on Coinbase or in a MetaMask wallet on Ethereum are not automatically there. You need to deposit into a Hyperliquid account first.
Path A — You have no crypto yet
- Follow How to buy your first crypto on a regulated exchange in your country.
- Buy a small amount of USDC (or buy ETH/BTC and swap to USDC on that exchange).
- Withdraw USDC from the exchange to Hyperliquid — use the deposit address and network shown in the Hyperliquid app’s deposit screen. Wrong network = stuck or lost funds (networks guide).
Path B — You already hold USDC elsewhere
- Create / log into a Hyperliquid account at app.hyperliquid.xyz.
- Open Deposit, copy the address and network Hyperliquid shows for USDC.
- Send a small test amount first from your wallet or exchange, then the rest once it arrives.
Stablecoins are the usual starting point because the price does not bounce while you learn the clicks (stablecoins guide).
Step 2 — Understand the two sides (before you click anything)
Hyperliquid has two sides in one account:
| Side | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| Trading side (HyperCore) | Buy/sell spot coins like HYPE with USDC — order book |
| App side (HyperEVM) | Use DeFi apps — swaps, HAM, Hyperham, Project X |
Moving from trading → EVM is an in-app transfer. It is not a third-party bridge (bridges guide, Hyperliquid mechanics).
Step 3 — Buy HYPE on the trading side
HAM lives on HyperEVM. The usual route is USDC → HYPE → (move to EVM) → HAM.
- On Hyperliquid, open Spot / Trade.
- Select the HYPE market (against USDC).
- Place a market or limit buy for a small amount of HYPE.
- Confirm you see HYPE in your trading-side balance.
HYPE is Hyperliquid’s native gas token on HyperEVM. You need some HYPE on the app side to pay transaction fees (gas fees).
Step 4 — Transfer HYPE to HyperEVM
- In the Hyperliquid app, find Transfer (between HyperCore and HyperEVM).
- Move the HYPE you bought from the trading side to the EVM side.
- Wait for the transfer to complete — still the same account, no external bridge.
Keep HYPE on the EVM side for swaps, approvals, and transaction fees. Moving from Core → EVM costs gas on HyperEVM (about 200k gas at the next block’s base price, per Hyperliquid docs) — leave a buffer so you are not stuck with HAM but no gas.
Step 5 — Connect a wallet to HyperEVM
DeFi apps on HyperEVM (Hyperham, Project X) talk to your wallet — MetaMask, Rabby, OKX Wallet, etc.
Add HyperEVM as a custom network if it is not already there:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Network name | HyperEVM |
| Chain ID | 999 |
| RPC URL | https://rpc.hyperliquid.xyz/evm |
| Currency symbol | HYPE |
| Block explorer | hyperscan.com |
Connect the same wallet you use with Hyperliquid if the app supports it, or a wallet that holds your EVM-side HYPE. Check the app’s docs for how they link accounts.
Step 6 — Buy HAM
Two common routes:
Option A — Hyperham “Ape In” (simplest for HAM)
- Go to app.hyperham.finance.
- Connect wallet on HyperEVM.
- Use Ape In — a pre-set swap that trades HYPE (or WHYPE) for HAM.
- Approve tokens if prompted (token approvals).
- Confirm the swap. Check Your Bag on Hyperham for your HAM balance.
Option B — Swap on Project X
- Open Project X (the HyperEVM DEX).
- Swap HYPE → HAM in the HAM/WHYPE or HAM pool shown in Hyperham’s docs.
- Review expected output — pool swaps on smaller coins can slip badly (Hyperliquid guide).
HAM is an elastic-supply token pegged toward $1 — your displayed balance can rebase without you trading. Read Hyperham’s FAQ before sizing a position.
Step 7 — Hold, or farm LP (optional)
- Just holding HAM — you already finished the buy path. Track underlying balance on Hyperham if rebases confuse you.
- Earning farm rewards — Hyperham’s farm wants HAM/WHYPE LP, not plain HAM. That’s a different job: LP vs token.
Quick checklist
| Step | Done when… |
|---|---|
| Deposit | USDC shows in Hyperliquid |
| Buy HYPE | HYPE on trading side |
| To EVM | HYPE on app / EVM side |
| Wallet | Connected on chain 999 |
| Buy HAM | HAM in wallet or Hyperham UI |
| Farm (optional) | LP staked — see LP guide |
This path touches exchange withdrawals, spot trading, EVM wallets, token approvals, and a rebasing altcoin. Any one step can fail expensively if you rush. Use test amounts, read every confirmation screen, and assume HAM can go to zero — especially if you only reached it through a thin liquidity pool.
Related: Hyperliquid mechanics · Field note: the four-step afternoon · LP vs token for Hyperham farms