Locked Crypto Assets Wipe Out 75% of Investor Value—Just When You Thought Hodling Was Safe

Vesting schedules turn ’diamond hands’ into fool’s gold as illiquid tokens crush portfolios.

Subheader: The fine print giveth, and the fine print taketh away

Investors who chased high-APY DeFi projects now face brutal math: promised 1000% yields mean nothing when 75% of your stack is frozen during a bear market. The very mechanisms designed to ’protect’ tokenomics—lockups, cliffs, and linear releases—are now backfiring spectacularly.

Bonus jab: At least traditional finance makes you sign the suicide clause before taking your money.

In Brief

• Locked tokens generated average losses of 50%, worsening crypto investors’ distrust.
• Over 40 billion dollars in altcoins will soon be unlocked, increasing market pressure.
• In 2025, only strong projects with high demand will succeed in standing out.

Severe Losses for Holders of Locked Tokens

Between May 2024 and April 2025, investors who bought locked tokens suffered an average loss of 50% compared to over-the-counter valuations, according to STIX. Some cryptos like Scroll (SCR) and Blast (BLAST) dropped by more than 85%, while Eigenlayer (EIGEN) lost 75%. In comparison, the overall crypto market fell by only 40.7% during the same period. The contrast is even more stark against Bitcoin (BTC), which gained 45% in the same timeframe.

Moreover, a dollar invested in a locked token would currently be worth only 0.25 dollar on the OTC market. These alarming results illustrate the major risk associated with prolonged vesting periods, which prevent any quick exit and expose crypto investors to uncontrolled price drops.

Consequences for the Crypto Market and 2025 Forecasts

With more than 40 billion dollars in locked altcoins about to be released, the crypto market could face massive selling pressure. This excess supply is likely to prolong the bearish trend on new projects.

However, the shortening of vesting periods observed in 2025 could partially limit the damage. Analysts anticipate a more selective market: only crypto projects showing strong traction and sustained organic demand should succeed in outperforming this year.

Facing historic losses of nearly 100 million dollars and the massive arrival of tokens on the market, caution is more necessary than ever in the crypto world. In 2025, only solid projects will survive this pressure. Investors will need to be extra vigilant to navigate an environment that has become much more selective.

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