Weekly Unlock Digest - Week 4, May 2025

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Bitcoin surged to a new all-time high above $110,000 this week, reinforcing sustained institutional interest and lifting overall crypto market sentiment. While the broader market remains bullish, **altcoin performance has become increasingly selective**, with only a handful of tokens demonstrating resilience amid ongoing token unlocks. This week’s digest explores major upcoming unlocks—including **$SUI and $BIO**—the continued selloff in **$PYTH, and promising new token launches such as $HAEDAL** and **$SXT**.

Market Momentum and Altcoin Selectivity

The crypto market maintained strong upward momentum, driven primarily by Bitcoin’s record-breaking rally. With Bitcoin dominance climbing to 64%, institutional adoption continues to accelerate. JPMorgan Chase recently announced it will begin offering clients access to Bitcoin, signaling growing mainstream acceptance.

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However, not all corners of the market are benefiting equally. Altcoins are facing increased scrutiny, as investors grow more discerning about tokenomics, unlock schedules, and real-world utility. Some projects are holding firm despite large unlocks, indicating strong demand. Others—like $PYTH—are showing signs of strain.

The $PYTH Selloff: Supply Overhang Meets Investor Caution

Over the past 30 days, $PYTH has declined nearly 20%, coinciding with the release of more than 50% of its circulating supply. While a significant portion was allocated to community incentives, approximately 12% went to insiders, including early investors and team members. This concentration of newly unlocked tokens among insiders likely contributed to selling pressure.

Despite the short-term headwinds, there’s a silver lining: no further unlocks are scheduled until May 2026. This multi-year gap provides the market with ample time to absorb the current supply before the next major release, potentially stabilizing price action if demand increases.

Upcoming Token Unlocks: Over $740 Million in Supply Release

Next week will see an estimated $740 million worth of tokens unlocked, with around 26% classified as insider allocations—tokens going to founders, core teams, or early backers. Among the most significant releases by dollar value are:

These unlocks could test market resilience, especially for tokens with weaker fundamentals or high insider concentration.

Spotlight: $SUI – Large Dollar Value, Long-Term Vesting

This week’s largest unlock by dollar value belongs to $SUI, yet its impact may be muted due to favorable long-term vesting. Although this release adds liquidity, over half of the total supply won’t unlock until after 2030, significantly reducing near-term supply pressure.

Investors appear confident in Sui’s ecosystem growth, supported by recent validator actions that froze most funds stolen in the $220 million Cetus hack—a move that showcased network resilience and coordination.

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Spotlight: $BIO – Highest Relative Unlock This Week

$BIO stands out with the highest percentage unlock relative to circulating supply this week. It marks the first major cliff since its Token Generation Event (TGE), releasing a substantial volume of tokens primarily to insider groups such as investors and core contributors.

Market reaction will depend heavily on how these stakeholders manage their newly unlocked holdings. If selling pressure emerges, it could weigh on price; however, strong retention could signal long-term confidence.

New Token Launches: $HAEDAL and $SXT Enter the Arena

Two notable projects launched this week: $HAEDAL (Haedal Protocol)** and **$SXT (Space and Time)—both aiming to solve critical infrastructure gaps in Web3.

$SXT: ZK-Proven Data on a Purpose-Built Layer 1

$SXT** powers Space and Time, a decentralized Layer 1 blockchain focused on **ZK-proven data integrity**, enabling scalable and verifiable data infrastructure for Web3 applications. The project raised **$50 million in funding, led by M12—the venture arm of Microsoft—highlighting strong institutional backing.

Currently trading at a $150 million market cap** and **$500 million fully diluted valuation (FDV), $SXT distinguishes itself through a community-centric token distribution. Compared to similar protocols like **The Graph ($GRT)**—which trades at a $1 billion market cap—$SXT allocates a significantly larger share to the community while reserving less for private investors and the team.

This model promotes broader decentralization early on, potentially fostering stronger user alignment and organic growth. However, long-term success will hinge on real-world adoption and developer engagement.

Key Crypto Developments This Week

Beyond unlocks and launches, several pivotal events shaped market dynamics:

Institutional Adoption Accelerates

Regulatory Progress

Tokenomics Updates

Ecosystem Innovations

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why are token unlocks important for investors?
A: Token unlocks increase circulating supply, which can create selling pressure—especially if insiders or early investors decide to exit positions. Monitoring unlock schedules helps anticipate potential volatility.

Q: Is $PYTH still a good investment after its recent selloff?
A: While $PYTH faces short-term pressure from supply releases, the absence of unlocks until 2026 offers breathing room. Long-term viability depends on ecosystem growth and demand for oracle services.

Q: How does $SXT differ from other data indexing protocols like $GRT?
A: Unlike $GRT, $SXT leverages zero-knowledge proofs for data verification and adopts a more decentralized token distribution, giving greater weight to community participation.

Q: What should I watch for before $BIO’s unlock?
A: Monitor on-chain activity from known insider wallets and exchange inflows. A spike in transfers to exchanges may signal impending sell-offs.

Q: Can Bitcoin’s dominance affect altcoin performance?
A: Yes. When Bitcoin dominance rises, capital often rotates out of altcoins. A sustained drop below 60% could signal renewed altseason momentum.

Q: How can I track upcoming token unlocks?
A: Use dedicated analytics platforms that monitor vesting schedules and classify allocations by category (e.g., team, investors, community).

Core Keywords

Bitcoin dominance, token unlocks, altcoin performance, $PYTH selloff, $SUI unlock, $BIO protocol, ZK-proven data, institutional adoption

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