🔓MAJOR TOKEN UNLOCKS THIS WEEK
More than $585 MILLION worth of tokens are scheduled to unlock over the next seven days.
Large cliff unlocks (>$5M, one-time):
$HYPE , SUI, EIGEN, KMNO, OP, ENA, $ZORA , SVL
Large linear unlocks (>$1M daily):
RAIN, SOL, TRUMP, WLD, DOGE, AVAX, ASTER
Crypto Markets Propel Forward with Exciting Developments
As another year concludes for cryptocurrencies, 2025 suggests potential for new all-time highs but hasn’t yet delivered as expected. Bitcoin remains trapped within a narrow range, while altcoins continue to drop to lower lows. What crucial developments await the crypto space in the early days of the new year, and by the end of 2025?
Significant Developments in Cryptocurrencies
December 29, Monday
December 30, Tuesday
December 31, Wednesday
January 1, Thursday
January 2, Friday
Attention on Cryptocurrencies
Significant Developments in Cryptocurrencies
Just like every week, we’ll delve into significant developments expected in the upcoming days for cryptocurrencies. Macroeconomic data and events specific to crypto significantly impact the charts. Although trading volumes are thin due to the holiday season, new developments are on the horizon. Let’s quickly glance at these.
December 29, Monday
Events include the release of HYPE’s token unlock, comprising 2.59% of its supply.
December 30, Tuesday
Key events include the US ADP Weekly Employment Change report at 4:15 PM and the FOMC meeting minutes at 10:00 PM. KMNO token unlock, making up 5.35%, is also scheduled.
December 31, Wednesday
The day features the US Initial Jobless Claims at 4:30 PM and the US Chicago PMI expectations for 39.5, with a previous value of 36.3.
January 1, Thursday
The markets are closed for the holiday. Token unlocks include OP at 1.65%, SUI at 1.17%, and EIGEN at 9.74%.
January 2, Friday
The key event is the US S&P Manufacturing PMI final report at 5:45 PM, with an expectation and previous value of 51.8. ENA token unlock at 0.56% also takes place.
Attention on Cryptocurrencies
Due to the Christmas holiday, a festive mood prevails in global markets, and apart from a few altcoin token unlocks, there aren’t significant developments. The week is expected to be calm due to year-end, but January will kick-off swiftly. Ethereum will initiate the BPO hard fork on January 7, and the decision on MSCI crypto reserve companies is anticipated by January 15. Additionally, a Supreme Court decision regarding customs tariffs is expected soon.
Trump is about to announce the new Fed Chairman, bringing more surprises along. The week’s most significant event will be the Fed meeting minutes. Analyzing the details together with the latest inflation and employment reports will help us predict the trajectory for the new year.
Cryptocurrency charts being confined within narrow ranges might serve as an opportunity for you to take a breather during these times.
$585M in Token Unlocks Loom: Will Altcoins Face Selling Pressure?
Multiple cryptocurrencies will see incoming cliff and linear token unlocks within the next seven days, putting pressure on the investors’ sentiment.
According to Wu Blockchain, Hyperliquid HYPE $25.61 24h volatility: 1.2% Market cap: $6.11 B Vol. 24h: $194.22 M , Sui SUI $1.46 24h volatility: 0.5% Market cap: $5.46 B Vol. 24h: $565.26 M , EigenCloud EIGEN $0.39 24h volatility: 0.0% Market cap: $194.38 M Vol. 24h: $31.44 M , Kamino KMNO $0.0533 24h volatility: 3.0% Market cap: $190.29 M Vol. 24h: $11.13 M , Optimism OP $0.28 24h volatility: 0.3% Market cap: $540.14 M Vol. 24h: $58.38 M , Ethena ENA $0.21 24h volatility: 0.1% Market cap: $1.63 B Vol. 24h: $130.65 M , ZORA and SVL will see large token unlocks, with each one exceeding $5 million in value.
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According to Tokenomist, large cliff unlocks (single unlocks exceeding $5 million) scheduled over the next 7 days include HYPE, SUI, EIGEN, KMNO, OP, ENA, ZORA, and SVL. Large linear unlocks (daily unlocks exceeding $1 million) over the same period include RAIN, SOL, TRUMP, WLD,… pic.twitter.com/ZBllI1K6lq
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 29, 2025
HYPE is leading the list with roughly $251 million in expected tokens to be unlocked at once, also called a cliff unlock.
Since a huge amount of tokens is expected to enter the circulating supply at once, HYPE is currently positioned at a higher shock risk.
RAIN, Solana SOL $125.2 24h volatility: 0.5% Market cap: $70.48 B Vol. 24h: $4.58 B , Official Trump TRUMP $4.96 24h volatility: 0.7% Market cap: $993.02 M Vol. 24h: $163.99 M , Worldcoin WLD $0.51 24h volatility: 0.4% Market cap: $1.35 B Vol. 24h: $78.22 M , Dogecoin DOGE $0.13 24h volatility: 1.0% Market cap: $21.03 B Vol. 24h: $857.28 M , Avalanche AVAX $12.71 24h volatility: 0.1% Market cap: $5.46 B Vol. 24h: $327.74 M and Aster ASTER $0.70 24h volatility: 2.6% Market cap: $1.67 B Vol. 24h: $107.25 M will see large linear unlocks in the same timeframe, Wu Blockchain wrote, citing data from Tokenomist.
Linear unlocks don’t happen suddenly, so it’s easier for the market to absorb the tension.
The total value of the forthcoming token unlocks for this week reaches at least $585 million.
Don’t Worry, Bears Have Your Back
The expectations of huge unlocks this week have already triggered fear, uncertainty, and doubt among the crypto community.
Responding to Wu Blockchain’s X post, users have been complaining about increased selling pressure.
Big unlocks = quiet selling pressure incoming
— A79 🀄️ (@a79degen) December 29, 2025
It’s important to note that token unlocks do not change or alter the fundamentals, technology, and utility of a cryptocurrency.
Instead, these are the tokens that have been locked for the founders, early investors, team, or partners of a project.
Naturally, the market expects selling pressure when large token unlocks are in line. However, some investors might not sell anytime soon, either due to future sentiment, bear market, or long-term utility.
Currently, many tokens are already far from their ATHs. For example, SOL is down by 57% from its top price of $294. HYPE has recorded a pretty similar movement and is currently down by 56% from its ATH of $59.
Overall, the global crypto market cap is down by $1.2 trillion since early October.
Since some investors would prefer to wait for a better price point, the selling pressure would likely be much lower than the market expects.
For example, the crypto market didn’t see high volatility after the $309 million token unlocks on Dec. 15. Instead, most of the assets continued sideways movements.
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Wahid has been analyzing and reporting on the latest trends in the decentralized ecosystem since 2019. He has over 4,000 articles to his name and his work has been featured on some of the leading outlets including Yahoo Finance, Investing.com, Cointelegraph, and Benzinga. Other than reporting, Wahid likes to connect the dots between DeFi and macro on his newsletter, On-chain Monk.
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