After a whirlwind week that saw Bitcoin break above $100,000 and flirt with its all-time high, the crypto market now braces for another wave of volatility — this time driven by a series of significant token unlocks scheduled across multiple altcoins.
Dozens of projects will release previously locked tokens into circulation over the next several days, potentially introducing short-term selling pressure across the market. From small-cap newcomers to multibillion-dollar protocols, the cumulative impact could ripple throughout trading activity in the week ahead.
High-Impact Unlocks Ahead
Among the most closely watched events is the nearly $1 billion release from WhiteBIT Coin (WBT) — amounting to over 21% of its market cap. Scheduled for May 13, this massive unlock dwarfs others in scale and could spark major price movement.
Other notable unlocks include:
- Aptos (APT): Unlocking $66.6 million, or 1.82% of its valuation, early on May 12
- Arbitrum (ARB): Releasing $42.6 million on May 16, a 1.97% share
- Immutable (IMX): Unlocking $19.8 million on May 16
- StarkNet (STRK): Freeing up $23.2 million, over 4% of its cap, on May 15
- Cyber (CYBER): A significant 10.3% of supply unlocks on May 15
- Game7 (G7): One of the most aggressive unlocks, releasing over 17% of its supply on May 12
- Oxygen (OXY): The outlier of the week, with an unlock that exceeds its market cap by over 360%, scheduled for May 17
Projects like ether.fi, DIMO, BounceBit, GoPlus, Ancient8, and Convex Finance will also undergo unlocks ranging from $1 million to $8 million, contributing to the steady wave of circulating supply increases across the ecosystem.
Investor Caution as Unlock Pressure Builds
Token unlocks are routine in crypto, typically tied to vesting schedules for early investors, teams, or community incentives. However, when they represent a large percentage of a project’s total market value, they can trigger volatility or downward pressure as recipients choose to sell into strength.
This week’s batch comes at a sensitive moment. While Bitcoin remains strong and investor sentiment is broadly bullish, the sudden influx of liquidity from unlocks could test support levels — particularly among smaller-cap tokens with lower trading volumes.
While not all unlocks result in immediate price swings, traders and analysts will be watching closely for signs of profit-taking, especially in projects with unlocks above 5–10% of total supply.
Alexander Stefanov
Reporter at Coindoo
Alex is an experienced finance journalist and a cryptocurrency and blockchain enthusiast. With over 8 years of experience covering the crypto, blockchain and fintech industries, he deeply understands the complex and constantly evolving world of digital assets. His insightful and thought-provoking articles provide readers with a clear picture of the latest developments and trends in the market. His passionate approach allows him to break down complex ideas into accessible and insightful content. Follow up on his content to be up to date with the most important trends and topics.
Source: https://coindoo.com/massive-token-unlock-week-looms-as-bitcoin-hovers-near-record-high/