Macro & Events 1 min read
Token Unlock
Also known as: Vesting Unlock, Cliff Unlock
Scheduled release of previously locked tokens (team, investors, ecosystem) into circulation.
Common unlock types
- Cliff — nothing unlocks for N months, then a lump sum is released.
- Linear — tokens stream continuously over a period.
- Milestone — unlocks triggered by events (TGE, listing, protocol stages).
Why it matters
- Cliff unlocks are the most dangerous — a huge chunk hits the market at once.
- Unlocks of team / VC allocations are usually the most bearish (holders are very deep in profit).
- Community / ecosystem unlocks are neutral to bullish.
Where to track
Tokenomist, Token Unlocks, CryptoRank, and in Exum's events layer under Unlocks.