Market braces for significant token supply increases
Bitcoin dropped to around $86,000 today, which some analysts link to concerns about a potential US government shutdown later this month. But there’s another factor that might influence cryptocurrency markets in the coming days: a wave of token unlocks across multiple altcoins.
Starting January 26th and running through February 1st, 2026, thirteen different projects will release previously locked tokens into circulation. The timing is interesting, I think, coming right after Bitcoin’s recent price movement. These unlocks represent new supply hitting the market, which could potentially affect prices if demand doesn’t keep pace.
Notable unlocks and their market impact
GateToken (GT) kicks things off on January 26th at 03:00 UTC+3, releasing $64.54 million worth of tokens. That’s about 5.79% of its current market value. On the same day, Sahara AI (SAHARA) follows with a $3.29 million unlock at 3:00 PM.
January 28th sees several releases, including Jupiter (JUP) with $9.82 million, Grass (GRASS) with $7.98 million, and Sign with a substantial $7.57 million unlock that represents 15.76% of its market cap. Open Campus (EDU) also unlocks $2.70 million later that evening.
But perhaps the most significant release comes on January 29th. Treehouse (TREE) is scheduled to unlock $8.98 million worth of tokens, which represents a massive 58.01% of its current market value. That’s a huge percentage, honestly. It’s rare to see unlocks of that magnitude.
Later week releases and market context
The week continues with GUNZ (GUN) and BSquared Network (B2) both unlocking tokens on January 30th. Then on January 31st, Optimism (OP) releases $9.15 million worth of tokens, which is just 1.66% of its market value.
February 1st wraps up the week with Kite (KITE) unlocking $7.51 million and EigenCloud (EIGEN) releasing $11.45 million at 11:00 AM.
What’s interesting to me is how these unlocks vary in their potential market impact. Some, like Treehouse’s 58% release, could significantly affect trading dynamics. Others, like Jupiter’s 1.66% unlock, might be more easily absorbed by the market.
Token unlocks are a normal part of many cryptocurrency projects’ tokenomics. They’re often scheduled well in advance as part of vesting schedules for team members, advisors, investors, or community rewards. But the timing and size matter. When large amounts of tokens become available for trading at once, it can create selling pressure if holders decide to liquidate.
Of course, not every unlock leads to price declines. Sometimes markets anticipate these events and price them in ahead of time. Other times, if the project has strong fundamentals and positive developments, the new supply might be met with equal or greater demand.
It’s worth watching how these unlocks play out across different time zones and trading sessions. The releases are scheduled throughout the day, which might spread out any potential market impact rather than concentrating it at a single moment.
As always with cryptocurrency markets, there are multiple factors at play. Government shutdown concerns, broader economic conditions, project-specific news, and these token unlocks all interact in complex ways. What seems clear is that this week presents an interesting test case for how these various altcoins handle increased supply availability.
