Key Token Unlocks to Watch This Week: Over $600 Million in Supply to Hit Markets

The crypto market is bracing for a significant wave of token supply inflation next week, with major unlocks scheduled across six projects. According to data from Token Unlocks, over $618 million worth of previously locked tokens will be released into circulation between January 26th and February 1st.** **

The event is headlined by a massive $508 million unlock for BGB token, constituting over 10% of its circulating supply. Other notable unlocks include Sign (SIGN), Jupiter (JUP), Kamino (KMNO), Sui (SUI), and EigenCloud (EIGEN). These concentrated releases present a critical test for market liquidity and token price stability, offering both risk and potential opportunity for informed investors.

Market Braces for $618M Token Unlock Wave

The cyclical nature of token unlocks represents a fundamental mechanic in crypto economics, often acting as a catalyst for increased market volatility. As we approach the final week of January, a concentrated batch of releases is poised to test investor sentiment on a considerable scale. Scheduled unlocks from January 26th to February 1st will collectively inject new supply worth over $618 million at current market prices. For market participants, understanding the scale, recipients, and context of each unlock is paramount for navigating potential price swings and identifying the underlying strength of each project.

Analysts closely monitor the unlock size relative to the circulating supply, as this percentage indicates the immediate inflationary pressure. A release constituting a double-digit percentage of circulating tokens—like those for BGB (10.53%) and SIGN (17.68%)—can significantly dilute existing holdings if met with proportionate selling. Conversely, smaller percentage unlocks, such as those for JUP (1.70%) and SUI (1.15%), may have a more muted direct impact but still contribute to overall market sentiment and liquidity. This week’s lineup provides a compelling mix, offering a live case study in how varying magnitudes of supply expansion interact with market depth, trading volume, and fundamental project utility.

BGB Unlock: A $508 Million Supply Event

All eyes are fixed on the BGB unlock, slated for 8:00 AM UTC on January 26th. This event stands out not only for its sheer monetary value—accounting for the vast majority of the week’s total unlocked value—but also for its scale relative to existing liquidity. A staggering 140 million BGB tokens, valued at approximately $508 million, are scheduled for release. This tranche represents about 10.53% of the current circulating supply, a substantial inflationary event that will test the token’s market depth and the exchange’s ecosystem strength.

What is the BGB Token?

BGB is the native utility token of a cryptocurrency exchange. Its primary functions include providing users with trading fee discounts, access to exclusive launchpad events, and rewards within the CEX ecosystem. Unlike pure speculative assets, BGB’s value is closely tied to the exchange’s trading volume, user growth, and product expansion. The token’s performance often reflects confidence in the exchange’s operational health and competitive position within the crowded CEX landscape.

Unlock Details and Potential Impact

This upcoming release is part of CEX’s pre-defined tokenomics, likely earmarked for ecosystem development, team incentives, or investor distributions. The key risk lies in the market’s ability to absorb this new supply without severe price depreciation. Given the unlock’s enormous size—over half a billion dollars—even a fraction of recipients opting to liquidate could create significant downward pressure. Historically, large exchange token unlocks have led to short-term price declines, followed by potential recovery if the released tokens are deployed productively into staking, fee payment, or ecosystem incentives rather than immediately sold on the open market.

Sign (SIGN) and Jupiter (JUP) Face High Percentage Releases

Following the BGB event, two other projects are scheduled for notable unlocks on January 28th, presenting clear cases of supply-side risk. While their total dollar values are smaller than BGB’s, their impact on circulating supply is pronounced and warrants close attention from their respective communities.

Sign (SIGN) Unlock Analysis

The Sign (SIGN) project will unlock 290 million tokens at 6:00 PM UTC on January 28th. With a value of around $12.2 million, this release constitutes a hefty 17.68% of its circulating supply. Such a large relative increase in sellable tokens often leads to heightened volatility, especially for tokens with lower daily trading volumes. SIGN, associated with digital signature and notarization services on blockchain, may see its price sensitivity amplified. The market will be watching to see if the project’s fundamentals and utility can outweigh the significant inflationary pressure from this unlock.

Jupiter (JUP) Unlock: A Test for the Leading DEX Aggregator

Later the same day, at 10:00 PM UTC, the Jupiter (JUP) decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator on Solana will unlock 53.47 million JUP tokens. Worth approximately $10.6 million, this represents a more modest 1.70% of its circulating supply. Despite the smaller percentage, JUP’s unlock is significant due to the project’s massive role in the Solana DeFi ecosystem. As the primary liquidity router, Jupiter’s token health is a barometer for Solana DeFi activity.

What is Jupiter (JUP)?

Jupiter is the essential swap infrastructure for Solana, aggregating liquidity from all major DEXs to provide users with the best possible trading rates. The JUP token is central to its emerging governance framework, community airdrops, and potential future fee-sharing mechanisms. The unlock, likely directed towards the team, early contributors, or treasury, will be a test of holder conviction. A stable or rising price post-unlock could signal strong long-term belief in Jupiter’s governance value and its indispensable position within the Solana stack.

Kamino, Sui, and EigenCloud: Mid-Sized Unlocks Round Out the Week

The unlock activity extends into the following days, with several projects set to release economically meaningful amounts of tokens. These events contribute to the overall supply narrative and can affect investor psychology, especially in projects with specific catalysts or growing ecosystems.

Kamino (KMNO) Unlock on January 30th

On January 30th at 8:00 PM UTC, Kamino (KMNO)—a leading lending and liquidity protocol on Solana—will release 229 million KMNO tokens. Worth $10.4 million, this constitutes 3.68% of its circulating supply. As a core DeFi primitive, its token performance post-unlock may offer insights into the strength and loyalty of the Solana DeFi user base, and their willingness to hold and utilize governance tokens beyond speculative trading.

Sui (SUI) and EigenCloud (EIGEN) on February 1st

February 1st features two contrasting unlocks. First, the Sui (SUI) Layer 1 blockchain will release 43.53 million SUI tokens at 8:00 AM UTC, valued at $64.4 million. This constitutes a relatively small 1.15% of its circulating supply. As a competitor to networks like Aptos with a substantial market cap, Sui’s unlock will likely be absorbed by a deeper market. The focus will be on whether the unlocked tokens are quickly staked (supporting network security) or if they add to selling pressure.

Just hours later, EigenCloud (EIGEN) will unlock 36.82 million tokens at 12:00 PM UTC. Worth about $12.3 million, this represents a more substantial 8.88% of its circulating supply. For a project like EigenCloud, which focuses on decentralized cloud computing, such an increase in float can lead to higher volatility, making it a key date for its holders and a test of the project’s community support.

Key Unlock Data at a Glance

For a quick overview, here are the critical metrics for this week’s major unlocks:

• BGB (Jan 26): 140M tokens, 10.53% of supply, $508M value – The week’s juggernaut.
• SIGN (Jan 28): 290M tokens, 17.68% of supply, $12.2M value – Highest relative inflation.
• JUP (Jan 28): 53.47M tokens, 1.70% of supply, $10.6M value – Test for Solana DeFi bellwether.
• KMNO (Jan 30): 229M tokens, 3.68% of supply, $10.4M value – Insight into Solana DeFi holder behavior.
• SUI (Feb 1): 43.53M tokens, 1.15% of supply, $64.4M value – Large value, low percentage impact.
• EIGEN (Feb 1): 36.82M tokens, 8.88% of supply, $12.3M value – Significant supply increase for its market.

Navigating Token Unlocks: A Strategic Guide for Investors

Token unlocks are not inherently bearish; they are a necessary process for distributing tokens to founders, teams, investors, and communities as promised in a project’s roadmap. However, they introduce a known supply shock into the market equation. Savvy investors use these scheduled events not as signals for panic, but as integral components of their risk management and potential strategic entry point framework.

Key Factors to Evaluate Before an Unlock:

1. Percentage of Circulating Supply: This is the most direct measure of inflationary pressure. Unlocks above 5-10% are high-impact events that require careful scrutiny.
2. Recipient Profile: Who is getting the tokens? Releases to early venture investors, who may be fully diluted and seeking returns, often carry higher immediate selling risk than releases to a community treasury, for ecosystem rewards, or to teams with long-term vesting schedules.
3. Project Fundamentals and Use Case: A token with strong, continuous utility (e.g., for fees, staking, governance) is more likely to see unlocked tokens held or re-staked rather than sold. Assess the project’s recent development activity, user growth, and roadmap progress.
4. Overall Market Conditions: Unlocks during a bull market with high inflows may be absorbed with minimal price impact due to overwhelming demand. The same unlock in a bearish or neutral market can lead to disproportionate selling pressure.
5. Historical Unlock Performance: Review how the token’s price reacted to previous unlock events. This can provide clues about holder behavior, the credibility of project communications, and the overall maturity of the token’s holder base.

A common tactical approach is to exercise heightened caution in the days immediately preceding a major unlock, as anticipation often builds selling pressure. Conversely, the period following the unlock can sometimes present buying opportunities if the sell-off is overdone and the project’s long-term thesis remains fundamentally intact—a phenomenon often referred to as “selling the news.”

FAQ: Understanding Crypto Token Unlocks

What is a token unlock in cryptocurrency?

A token unlock is a scheduled event where a batch of previously locked or vesting tokens becomes freely transferable and can be sold on the open market. These tokens are typically allocated to the project’s team, early investors, advisors, or treasury and are released according to a pre-defined vesting schedule outlined in the project’s tokenomics.

Why do token unlocks often cause the price to drop?

Unlocks increase the immediate selling supply. If a large number of recipients (like early investors achieving a return) decide to sell their newly unlocked tokens simultaneously, it can create an imbalance where supply outstrips demand, pushing the price down. This effect is magnified if the unlock represents a large percentage of the typical daily trading volume.

How can I find out about upcoming token unlocks?

Several data platforms track vesting schedules and upcoming unlocks. Token Unlocks, CoinMarketCap, and CoinGecko often have dedicated sections or calendars for this information. Additionally, project whitepapers, official documentation, and transparency reports usually detail the full vesting schedule and planned releases.

Should I always sell before a major token unlock?

Not necessarily. While unlocks present a known risk, a blanket “sell before unlock” strategy can lead to missed opportunities. Some unlocks are anticipated and “priced in” by the market ahead of time. Furthermore, if the project is fundamentally strong and the tokens are released to committed long-term holders or for ecosystem growth, the price impact may be minimal or temporary. A nuanced approach, evaluating the specific factors of each unlock, is recommended.

What’s the difference between “circulating supply” and “total supply” in an unlock context?

Circulating Supply refers to the number of tokens currently available to the public and actively trading on the market. Total Supply is the maximum number of tokens that will ever exist. An unlock event increases the circulating supply. The key metric for assessing impact is the unlock size *as a percentage of the pre-unlock circulating supply*, as this shows how much the actively traded token pool is inflating at once.