In August 2025, the total value of crypto token set to unlock is expected to fall sharply to around $3 billion, down 52% from $6.3 billion in July, according to data from Tokenomist. This significant decline in monthly token emissions comes as part of a broader shift in market behaviour, with investors increasingly focusing on project fundamentals rather than reacting with panic to unlock events.

However, despite the overall drop, some high-value unlocks scheduled for August are still expected to affect price movements, especially for tokens like Sui (SUI) and Fasttoken (FTN).

SUI Tops August Unlocks with Over $167M

The biggest token unlock in August will come from Sui, which is set to release $167.62 million worth of tokens on August 1. While only about 34.5% of SUI’s total supply is currently in circulation, this unlock represents a substantial increase in available tokens.

The biggest scheduled token unlocks in August. Source: Tokenomist

With SUI’s fully diluted valuation still relatively high, the market may face downward pressure, especially if early investors decide to sell their tokens after the unlock. Such dynamics often introduce temporary volatility, particularly when the unlocked portion significantly increases circulating supply.

Projects with a large portion of their supply still locked often see sharper price reactions when new tokens are released, as the sudden boost in supply can outweigh market demand.

FTN, Aptos, Avalanche and Arbitrum Also in Focus

Following Sui, the second-largest token unlock will be Fasttoken (FTN), with $91.6 million worth of tokens unlocking on August 18. However, analysts believe the impact may be limited, since over 94% of FTN tokens are already circulating in the market. This means the unlock represents a relatively small increase in supply and is unlikely to cause major price swings.

Other notable unlocks include:

• Aptos (APT): $51.5 million worth unlocking

• Avalanche (AVAX): $40.35 million unlocking

• Arbitrum (ARB): $39.24 million unlocking

These mid-sized unlocks are scheduled throughout the middle of the month. While their dollar values are lower than SUI or FTN, they could still impact prices depending on market sentiment and liquidity conditions.

Low-Float Tokens May Face More Volatility

Smaller projects like Starknet and Kaito may experience higher volatility during their respective token unlocks due to their thin market depth and low token float.

• Starknet is set to unlock $16 million

• Kaito will release $29 million

When there is limited liquidity or trading volume, even modest token unlocks can trigger sharper price moves. These projects are particularly sensitive to sell-offs from early investors or team members, especially if there’s little trading support to absorb the new supply.

From Panic to Planning: Investors Take a Nuanced View

According to Vincent Kadar, CEO of security token platform Polymath, the industry is undergoing a positive shift in how token unlocks are perceived. Speaking to Cointelegraph, Kadar explained that investors used to suffer from “unlock anxiety,” where large releases caused sudden drops in price and short-term panic.

Vincent Kadar, CEO of security token platform Polymath

Now, however, institutional and sophisticated investors are asking deeper questions:

• Are tokens unlocking in line with actual user adoption?

• Is there transparency in governance and token distribution?

• Do unlocks support the project’s long-term goals?

This more thoughtful approach is helping to stabilise the market response to unlocks. Rather than reacting based solely on supply cliffs, investors are considering factors like utility, incentive structures, and compliance readiness, especially in light of growing institutional interest in the crypto space.

Kadar emphasised that this shift is “constructive for the industry,” and reflects a maturing market where blockchain projects are being held to higher standards of sustainability, transparency, and value alignment.

No Slowdown, Just Strategy

Despite the significant 50% drop in overall unlock values for August, analysts caution that this isn’t a sign of weakness in the crypto market. Rather, it may be a reflection of strategic timing, regulatory developments, and changing liquidity preferences.

Projects are adjusting their unlock schedules to better align with their growth stages, market conditions, and investor expectations. As the market matures, unlock events are becoming less about hype and more about purpose.

The coming month may be quieter in terms of dollar value unlocked, but the focus is shifting to quality over quantity, a sign that crypto tokenomics is entering a more sustainable phase.