Crypto initiatives are poised to release approximately $4.5 billion in locked tokens this September, as reported by data tracker Tokenomist.
According to Tokenomist data, around $1.17 billion will result from cliff unlocks, while $3.36 billion will emerge from linear unlocks. In total, about $4.5 billion in tokens will be accessible to investors, project teams, and other participants as vesting agreements reach their conclusion.
Cliff unlocks often involve substantial, one-time releases of tokens following the end of a specified lockup period, which can lead to market disruption due to supply shocks. Conversely, linear unlocks release tokens gradually over time, mitigating the potential impact on supply.
Major projects like Sui (SUI), Fasttoken (FTN), Arbitrum (ARB), and Aptos (APT) are among those unlocking millions in tokens this September.
Crypto projects unlocking digital assets in September. Source: Tokenomist
Crypto projects to unlock vested tokens in September
Sui tops September’s token unlocks with over $153 million scheduled for release. Tokenomist data indicates that the network has only released 35.1% of its total supply, suggesting a considerable amount remains locked.
FTN ranks second with $90 million worth of tokens to be added to circulation. In contrast to Sui, FTN has already released over 96% of its tokens, resulting in a smaller proportional increase in supply.
Aptos is set to unlock nearly $50 million in tokens, with Arbitrum not far behind at about $48 million expected to be released next month.
Additional significant unlocks include Starknet, releasing $16.85 million in tokens, and Sei, which will contribute roughly $16.49 million to its supply. Other projects like ZK and Immutable will unveil $10.7 million and $13.4 million, respectively.
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Market shifts from unlock anxiety to a more nuanced outlook
Vincent Kadar, CEO of security token platform Polymath, expressed to Cointelegraph that investors have transitioned from worrying about token unlocks to a broader conversation.
Kadar highlighted that sophisticated investors now assess economics, adoption rates, governance transparency, and incentives that align with long-term value. The market is shifting its focus from short-term outcomes to fundamental analysis.
Kadar remarked that this evolution is beneficial for the industry, as discussions evolve in tandem with the growth and connection of blockchain projects to public markets.
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