Crypto Market Braces for $237 Million in Linear Token Unlocks Amid Rising Supply Pressure
- What Are the Major Token Unlocks Happening This Week?
- How Will Stable Network's Launch Impact the Market?
- Which Projects Face the Heaviest Unlock Pressures?
- Why Do Web3 Projects Dominate This Week's Unlocks?
- How Do Token Unlocks Affect Long-Term Project Valuation?
- What Should Traders Watch During Unlock Events?
- Token Unlocks: Market Impact FAQs
The crypto market is gearing up for a significant influx of new tokens, with over $237 million worth of linear unlocks scheduled for the coming week. This wave of supply-side pressure comes as major projects like Solana (SOL), TRUMP meme tokens, Avalanche (AVAX), and Bittensor (TAO) release fresh tokens into circulation. While linear unlocks typically have a milder impact than sudden vesting events, the sheer volume this week could test the market's absorption capacity. Notably, the launch of Stable Network's mainnet will introduce $566 million in new stablecoin-focused tokens, adding another layer of complexity to the supply dynamics.
What Are the Major Token Unlocks Happening This Week?
The crypto market is facing its largest weekly token unlock event of December 2025, with $237 million in linear vesting scheduled across multiple projects. Solana leads the pack with its routine supply expansion, while meme token TRUMP will see $4 million unlocked daily. Other significant unlocks include Aster (ASTER), Avalanche (AVAX), and Bittensor (TAO), with Dogecoin (DOGE) adding another $1 million to its unlimited supply. According to data from TokenUnlocks, these events represent a 9% increase from last week's $218 million in unlocks.
Source: TokenUnlocks
How Will Stable Network's Launch Impact the Market?
The most dramatic supply event this week isn't actually an unlock - it's the launch of Stable Network's mainnet, which will generate $566.38 million in native tokens based on pre-market trading valuations. Unlike routine unlocks from established projects, Stable's debut creates entirely new supply for a network specializing in stablecoin transfers. As noted by BTCC analyst Mark Chen, "Mainnet launches typically create more volatility than scheduled unlocks because there's no historical price action to guide market expectations."
Which Projects Face the Heaviest Unlock Pressures?
Beyond the linear unlocks, $106 million in tokens will hit the market through scheduled vesting contracts. Connex (CONX) leads with $21.85 million in unlocks, despite already having 82% of its supply in circulation. Other major unlocks include Aptos ($19.9 million), Starknet ($11 million), and Pump.fun ($30.9 million). The latter attempts to offset dilution through regular buybacks - a strategy that's worked moderately well historically, though as any DeFi veteran will tell you, buybacks are like putting a Band-Aid on a broken dam when large unlocks hit.
Why Do Web3 Projects Dominate This Week's Unlocks?
Approximately 70% of this week's unlocks originate from Web3 infrastructure and application projects, reflecting the sector's continued growth and early-stage financing structures. Linea's $11 million unlock will increase circulating supply by 6.78% - one of the most significant dilution events this week. Other Web3 projects with notable unlocks include Mocaverse and Avantis, many of which are still working through tokens allocated during their VC funding rounds. It's worth remembering that most Web3 projects launched during the 2021-2023 boom included aggressive vesting schedules that are now coming home to roost.
How Do Token Unlocks Affect Long-Term Project Valuation?
While unlocks temporarily increase supply pressure, their long-term impact varies wildly. Some projects like solana have demonstrated an ability to grow market cap despite regular unlocks, while others see permanent price suppression. As the BTCC research team notes, "Projects with strong fundamentals can absorb unlocks through organic demand, but weaker ones often get stuck in a cycle of lower highs." Historical data from CoinMarketCap shows that only about 30% of projects see positive price action in the month following major unlocks.
What Should Traders Watch During Unlock Events?
Seasoned crypto traders typically monitor three key metrics during unlock periods: exchange inflows (tracking where unlocked tokens move), funding rates (measuring futures market sentiment), and on-chain liquidity depth. The current market shows mixed signals - while derivatives data from TradingView indicates some bearish positioning, spot markets remain relatively liquid. As always in crypto, the only certainty is volatility, especially when $237 million in new supply enters an already jittery market.
Token Unlocks: Market Impact FAQs
How do linear unlocks differ from cliff unlocks?
Linear unlocks release tokens gradually over time (daily/weekly), while cliff unlocks release large amounts at specific dates. Linear events typically cause less price volatility.
Which exchange offers the best liquidity during unlock events?
Major exchanges like BTCC, Binance, and OKX typically provide the deepest liquidity, though spreads can widen significantly around large unlock events.
Do all projects see price declines after unlocks?
Not necessarily. According to CryptoRank data, about 30% of projects actually gain value post-unlock, particularly those with strong staking demand or burning mechanisms.
How can investors track upcoming token unlocks?
Platforms like TokenUnlocks.app and CoinMarketCap's vesting calendars provide comprehensive schedules. Many traders set calendar alerts for major events.
What's the largest token unlock expected in December 2025?
The Stable Network launch on December 15 represents the largest single supply event at $566 million, though technically it's a generation rather than an unlock.
