The month of January is scheduled to see a substantial increase in the circulating supply of various digita…

Lede

The month of January is scheduled to see a substantial increase in the circulating supply of various digital assets, with more than $5.5 billion in cryptocurrencies set to be unlocked. This volume of tokens entering the market is part of established vesting schedules designed to manage how new supply is introduced over time. According to the data, the distribution is split between two distinct release types. Approximately $2.5 billion will be made available through what is known as a cliff unlock, where a specific quantity of tokens is released entirely at once. The remaining $3 billion is designated for linear releases, which ensure that tokens enter circulation on a gradual basis rather than in a single large block. This dual approach is common in the industry to balance the needs of early investors and contributors with the stability of the asset’s market presence.

Specifically, the four largest token unlocks scheduled for this month include Ondo (ONDO), Bitget Token (BGB), Hyperliquid (HYPE), and Official Trump (TRUMP). These four projects alone are responsible for roughly $1.94 billion of the incoming supply, representing approximately 35% of the total $5.5 billion scheduled for release throughout January. The scale of these upcoming events highlights a significant period for the cryptocurrency ecosystem as multiple high-valuation projects reach critical milestones in their respective distribution timelines. This concentration of value in a small number of assets makes these specific releases particularly noteworthy for the month’s overall market activity.

Context

Detailed schedules for the largest releases in January reveal a series of high-value events concentrated in the latter half of the month. Ondo (ONDO) is positioned as the leader in terms of volume, with a massive release of 1.9 billion tokens scheduled for January 19. This unlock is estimated to be worth over $840 million based on current market valuations. Following Ondo, Bitget Token (BGB) has a significant release planned for January 26, where 140 million tokens valued at nearly $500 million will be introduced into circulation. These two projects represent the largest individual contributions to the month’s total unlock value, involving substantial sums that reflect their market profiles.

Other major participants in the January unlock schedule include Hyperliquid and the official memecoin for US President Donald Trump. Hyperliquid (HYPE) is set to release 12.4 million tokens, which are valued at approximately $327 million. This release is designated for the project’s core contributors and is noted as being the closest upcoming unlock among the top group, scheduled for a Tuesday. Additionally, the Official Trump (TRUMP) token is preparing to release 50 million tokens on January 18. This specific release is valued at $270 million and is allocated for the project’s founders and team members. While smaller than the Ondo and Bitget releases, these unlocks are still considered significant within the context of January’s overall supply increases and the specific vesting mechanics of each project.

Impact

The arrival of $5.5 billion in new token supply across the market involves a mix of different allocation strategies and potential market effects. The $2.5 billion scheduled for cliff unlocks creates a more immediate addition to the circulating supply, while the $3 billion in linear releases introduces tokens more slowly. For the Ondo project, the 1.9 billion tokens entering the market on January 19 represent a major expansion of its supply, worth over $840 million. In the case of Hyperliquid, the 12.4 million tokens scheduled for release to core contributors carry a valuation of $327 million. At the time of reporting, HYPE was trading at $26.41, having seen a gain over the previous 24 hours despite the approaching supply increase.

The Bitget Token (BGB) unlock of 140 million tokens, valued at nearly $500 million, is divided between different internal categories. Specifically, a portion of these tokens is designated for the project team, while another significant amount is set aside for branding and promotional activities. Furthermore, the Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin release of 50 million tokens adds $270 million to the total supply. Because these top four projects collectively account for $1.94 billion—or 35% of the total monthly volume—the impact of these specific unlocks is significantly higher than that of many other smaller projects. The managed nature of these releases, through the process of crypto vesting, is intended to align long-term incentives while the market absorbs the new liquidity.

Outlook

As January progresses, the market will navigate a series of key dates associated with these multi-billion dollar token releases. The sequence of major events begins with the Hyperliquid (HYPE) unlock on a Tuesday, which is followed closely by the Official Trump (TRUMP) release on January 18. Immediately afterward, the Ondo (ONDO) unlock on January 19 will introduce the largest single-day value of the month. The cycle of major cliff releases for the top group concludes on January 26 with the Bitget Token (BGB) distribution. Beyond these specific dates, the $3 billion in linear releases will continue to provide a steady stream of new assets entering circulation throughout the entire 31-day period.

This period of high-volume vesting activity is a routine part of the cryptocurrency market’s mechanics, aimed at preventing early or sudden surges in supply that could occur without such schedules. While the four largest unlocks for ONDO, BGB, HYPE, and TRUMP represent a significant 35% of the total, the remaining $3.56 billion in tokens will come from various other projects across the sector. This indicates that the first month of the year will see a broad and diversified increase in circulating supply. The ability of the market to integrate this $5.5 billion in new assets will be a defining feature of the digital asset landscape for January, as projects move forward with their planned distribution and incentive structures.