Crypto Market Faces $4.4 Billion Token Unlocks in May 2025
1min read In May 2025, the crypto market is set for significant activity with over $4.4 billion in token unlocks scheduled across more than 10 projects. This includes major events for WhiteBIT Coin, Sui, Pyth Network, Aptos, Arbitrum, Ethena, and StarkNet, among others. Token unlocks, where previously locked tokens become available for trading, often lead to increased market activity and potential volatility as more supply enters the market.
WhiteBIT Coin (WBT) is set to unlock $1.16 billion worth of tokens on May 13, which equals 27.4% of its total market cap. This makes it one of the largest relative unlocks this cycle, with WBT currently trading at $30. The significant release of tokens could impact the market dynamics for WBT, potentially causing short-term price fluctuations.
Ask Aime: "Will WhiteBIT Coin's token unlock cause significant market shifts?"
Sui (SUI) and Pyth Network (PYTH) are also preparing for substantial unlocks. Sui will unlock $334.63 million worth of tokens on May 1, while Pyth Network is set to release $333.86 million on May 20. The Pyth unlock involves 2.13 billion PYTH tokens, accounting for 58.3% of its current market cap. This large release could exert short-term price pressure, with SUI trading at $3.50 and PYTH at $0.15 at the time of writing.
Other notable unlocks include Aptos (APT), which will unlock 11.31 million apt worth $63.72 million on May 12, representing 1.83% of its market cap. Ethena (ENA) will unlock 94.19 million ENA tokens worth $33.45 million on May 2, or 1.7% of its cap. Arbitrum (ARB) will release 92.63 million tokens valued at $31.88 million on May 16, about 1.95% of its market cap. Polyhedra (ZKJ) will unlock 15.50 million tokens on May 19, worth $33.41 million. Saros (SAROS) follows with 213.93 million tokens unlocking the same day, valued at $28.20 million, or 8.15% of its cap. Jito Labs (JTO) will unlock 11.31 million tokens worth $20.49 million on May 7, representing 3.5% of its market cap. StarkNet (STRK) is set to release 127.60 million tokens on May 15, valued at $19.41 million.
With over $4.4 billion in unlocks scheduled, May is shaping up to be an eventful month for the crypto market. Traders and market participants are closely tracking tokenomics, supply shocks, and potential sell pressure as these unlocks could significantly impact token prices and market dynamics. The scale of these unlocks has market participants bracing for potential volatility, as the release of large amounts of tokens could lead to increased supply and potential price adjustments.
