Over $100 million worth of tokens are scheduled to be unlocked between late March and early April 2026, creating potential selling pressure across several mid-cap and large-cap cryptocurrency projects. Token unlocks refer to the release of previously locked tokens — typically allocated to team members, early investors, or ecosystem development funds — that become freely tradable on the open market.
Key Upcoming Unlocks
Several significant unlock events are on the immediate horizon:
- SUI (March 31): Approximately $42 million in SUI tokens will be released, representing about 2.1% of the circulating supply. The unlock includes allocations for early-stage investors and ecosystem development.
- ENA (April 2): Ethena will unlock roughly $28 million in tokens, primarily from team and advisor vesting schedules. This follows a period of strong performance for the protocol.
- EDGE (April 3): Edge Network will release approximately $18 million in tokens from its community incentive pool.
- ARB (April 5): Arbitrum faces a $15 million unlock from investor allocations, though this represents a relatively small percentage of total supply.
Historical Impact of Token Unlocks
Research from on-chain analytics firms shows that token unlocks can create short-term price pressure, particularly when the unlocked amount represents a significant percentage of circulating supply. However, the actual impact varies significantly depending on market conditions, the identity of unlock recipients, and the project's fundamentals.
In many cases, anticipated unlocks have already been "priced in" by the market, with selling occurring in the days leading up to the event rather than immediately upon release. Sophisticated investors and market makers often adjust their positions ahead of scheduled unlocks.
Trader Considerations
For traders and investors, token unlocks represent both risk and opportunity. Short-term traders may look to capitalize on anticipated volatility around unlock dates, while longer-term investors might view any unlock-induced dips as potential buying opportunities for fundamentally strong projects.
It is important to note that not all unlocked tokens are immediately sold. Many recipients — particularly team members and strategic investors — may choose to hold their tokens or sell gradually over time, reducing the immediate market impact.
AXT News publishes weekly token unlock calendars. Follow our Markets section for updates.
Comments
Token unlocks are the most predictable source of selling pressure. This calendar is exactly what every trader needs. April looks like it could be choppy for several projects.
Smart investors should be positioning now for the post-unlock dips. These events are well-telegraphed buying opportunities if you believe in the underlying projects.