Trove Markets faced fresh backlash after abandoning its planned Hyperliquid integration and shifting development to Solana. The move came only weeks after the team raised more than $11.5 million in a TROVE token sale that many supporters tied to a Hyperliquid-based roadmap. Consequently, angry backers began calling for refunds, saying the project changed its direction after taking their funds. The dispute has also reopened concerns about Trove’s transparency during its fundraise and how the team makes decisions under pressure. Trove Blames Liquidity Loss for the Chain Switch Trove announced the pivot on X and said new constraints forced a major rebuild. A builder known as Unwise later linked the change to a liquidity partner pulling 500,000 HYPE tokens. That commitment supported the Hyperliquid rollout and its required stake model. However, without those tokens, Trove could not meet the framework needed to launch new perpetual markets. Hence, the team said it will rebuild the perp exchange on Solana from scratch. The timing added to the tension. The TROVE sale ran from Jan. 8 to Jan. 11. Moreover, the token generation event is still set for Monday at 4:00 pm UTC. Trove also said refund processing and the Solana migration will slow the project’s next steps. Refund Demands Grow After Funding History Resurfaces Critics have pointed to Trove’s earlier capital decisions as a reason trust broke down fast. In November, Trove raised $20 million to acquire 500,000 HYPE tokens. That stash supported Hyperliquid’s HIP-3 stake, which acts as a slashable bond for market security. Significantly, some backers now question why the team walked away after building around that requirement. Social media users also argued the raise sold a specific product direction. Additionally, some investors said they wanted a new vote or revised terms before accepting a chain swap. The refund debate has become a proxy fight over investor rights in fast-moving token launches. ZachXBT Flags Activity as Governance Questions Expand Blockchain investigator ZachXBT added more scrutiny after highlighting Trove-linked transfers involving HYPE tokens and casino deposit addresses. While Trove has not publicly addressed each claim, the attention raised broader questions about treasury controls and disclosure. Besides governance concerns, the product focus remains unusual. Trove wants a perpetual trading venue centered on collectibles like Pokémon cards and Counter-Strike 2 skins. Bitwise estimated this niche could grow into a $21.4 billion market. Trove argues Solana offers better infrastructure for that vision. However, the team now faces a credibility test as it tries to keep shipping while calming refund pressure.
