Aptos' $46.8M Token Flood Tests Market Resilience Days Before FOMC

The Aptos blockchain network is set to experience a significant token unlock event on September 12, 2025, when approximately 10.94 million APT tokens—valued at $46.8 million—enter the market, according to data from RootData and Tokenomist. The unlock represents roughly 0.98% of Aptos’ circulating supply, placing it among the largest token releases of the week. The event follows a similar unlock on July 12, which released 11.31 million tokens valued at $45.24 million, or 1.76% of the total supply. Historical data indicates that previous Aptos unlocks have generated mixed price responses, with some instances of immediate sell-offs followed by partial recoveries.

September’s unlock is part of a broader wave of insider token releases, with over $45 million in unlocks scheduled across multiple blockchain projects from September 8 to 14. These events typically involve tokens allocated to project teams, founders, and early investors, and their introduction into the open market can influence short-term liquidity and price dynamics. For Aptos, the September 12 release marks a continuation of its unlock schedule, which has seen additional token inflows in May and June, valued at $65 million and $53–$59 million respectively. Analysts note that while the percentage of circulating supply unlocked in this event is relatively small, the sheer dollar value of the release positions Aptos as a key player in the upcoming unlock calendar.

The potential impact of the unlock on APT’s price remains a point of discussion among market participants. Past unlock events, particularly those with higher percentages of circulating supply, have seen temporary price corrections due to increased selling pressure. However, Aptos’ position as a Layer 1 blockchain with institutional partnerships and growing developer adoption may help stabilize price movements, provided demand remains strong. Additionally, the timing of the unlock—just days before the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) monetary policy announcement on September 18—introduces an added layer of macroeconomic uncertainty, which could amplify volatility in the broader crypto market.

Investors and traders are advised to monitor liquidity conditions, on-chain activity, and market sentiment leading up to and following the unlock. Tools such as RootData and Tokenomist provide real-time tracking of token movements, allowing market participants to assess potential risks and opportunities. For those considering strategic entries or exits, historical patterns suggest that post-unlock dips may present re-entry opportunities, particularly for long-term holders confident in Aptos’ fundamentals. However, short-term traders may need to adopt risk mitigation strategies, including stop-loss orders and position diversification, to navigate potential price swings.

The broader September token unlock schedule also highlights the diversity of projects releasing tokens, ranging from established Layer 1 networks to speculative memecoins. While Aptos’ unlock is among the largest in dollar terms, other notable events include PUMP, a memecoin with a $34.4 million unlock, and ZRO, a cross-chain infrastructure token with a $49.9 million release. These events collectively inject nearly $4.7 billion into the market, a figure that, while lower than the $6.3 billion seen in July, is still among the largest unlock cycles of the year.

Source:

[1] ChainCatcher (https://www.chaincatcher.com/en/article/2203498)

[2] Bitget (https://www.bitget.com/news/detail/12560604951561)

[3] CoinEdition (https://cryptorank.io/news/feed/419af-over-45m-in-insider-token-unlocks-set-to-hit-market-sept-8-14)

[4] Bitget Academy (https://web3.bitget.com/en/academy/token-unlocks-september-2025-which-crypto-releases-should-you-watch-closely)