Token unlocks are scheduled releases of tokens that were previously locked under a vesting agreement, often reserved for project teams, early investors, or community incentives. These lockups are designed to align long-term commitment with project growth and prevent large sell-offs at launch.
When an unlock occurs, the circulating supply of a token increases. If recipients sell, it can create downward pressure on prices, especially if the unlock is large relative to existing float. On the other hand, if the market absorbs the new supply, through strong demand, staking, or long-term holders, it can be a sign of confidence in the project’s fundamentals. The impact of an unlock depends on factors such as the size of the release compared to circulating supply, who receives the tokens, and overall market sentiment at the time.
Discover the top crypto token unlocks in September 2025, including Sui, Aptos, Arbitrum, and Ethena, and learn how these events may impact market volatility and trading opportunities.
September 2025 Token Unlocks: The Big Picture
Total value of tokens unlocking per week | Source: Tokenomist
September is shaping up to be a heavy month for token unlocks, with nearly $4.5 billion worth of crypto set to be released into circulation. These unlocks come from a mix of major projects, including Sui (SUI), Ethena (ENA), Aptos (APT), Arbitrum (ARB), LayerZero (ZRO), Sei (SEI), Jito (JTO), Immutable (IMX), and ZetaChain (ZETA). For traders and investors, this means more tokens entering the market, which can sometimes create price swings if demand doesn’t keep up.
Here’s what stands out this month:
• About $1.17 billion will be released in one-time “cliff” unlocks, while $3.36 billion will be spread out gradually through “linear” unlocks.
• Sui (SUI) leads with the largest single release, making it the key project to watch.
• A unique case is World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a Trump family-backed project, which will unlock 20% of its tokens on Sep 1, while the rest will be distributed later based on community governance.
• In just the first week of September (Sep 1–7), over $116 million worth of insider tokens hit the market. Ethena (ENA) led the way with a major unlock that pushed its price into the $0.640–$0.662 range, while smaller projects like Hivemapper (HONEY), Staika (STIK), and Spectral (SPEC) also saw weakness as new supply met limited demand.
In simple terms: September will test how well different markets can absorb fresh supply. Some tokens may face selling pressure, while others could hold steady if buying interest and community support remain strong.
Top Token Unlocks to Watch in September 2025
September is packed with major token unlocks across leading projects, and tracking these events is essential for traders to anticipate supply shifts and potential volatility.
1. Sep 1 – World Liberty Financial (WLFI)
WLFI token unlock progress | Source: Tokenomist
World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a Trump-backed project, begins its unlock cycle with the WLFI official token launch on Sep 1 with 20% of presale and eligible tokens becoming claimable at 12:00 UTC. The remaining 80% will be distributed based on future community governance votes, giving holders direct influence over the release schedule. With nearly half a billion dollars locked and a Cyfrin-audited Lockbox, this event has drawn significant attention from both political and crypto circles, making early trading especially volatile.
Read more: WLFI 20% Token Unlock on September 1: Price Prediction, Trading Guide & Investor Takeaways
2. Sep 1 – ZetaChain (ZETA)
ZetaChain token unlock schedule | Source: Tokenomist
ZetaChain will release 47.9M tokens worth around $8–9M, representing 2.28% of its supply, at 12:00 UTC. This unlock is relatively modest compared to larger projects but still notable due to ZetaChain’s role in cross-chain interoperability. Validator rounds and ecosystem liquidity may shift depending on how much of the released supply enters circulation.
3. Sep 1 – Sui (SUI)
Sui token unlock schedule | Source: Tokenomist
Sui kicks off September with its biggest unlock, valued at $153M–$184M, making it the month’s most closely watched release. The combination of cliff and linear unlocks adds both immediate and ongoing supply pressure. Given that Sui has only released about 35% of its total supply so far, this event could significantly influence its price and market sentiment.
4. Sep 2 – Ethena (ENA)
ENA token unlock schedule | Source: Tokenomist
Ethena will unlock approximately $108M worth of tokens at 00:00 UTC, equal to 2.6% of its circulating supply. The token’s price is already struggling to hold between $0.640–$0.662 as traders anticipate new supply. This makes ENA one of the highest-risk events of early September, with liquidity and demand being key factors to watch.
5. Sep 2 – BONK (BONK)
BONK token unlock schedule | Source: Tokenomist
BONK, one of Solana’s most active memecoins, will unlock about $11M worth of tokens at 00:00 UTC. Though smaller in dollar terms, BONK’s unlocks often lead to outsized volatility due to the project’s strong meme-driven community and speculative flows. Traders should expect sharp intraday swings and potential liquidity spikes around this event.
6. Sep 5 – Immutable (IMX)
IMX token unlock schedule | Source: Tokenomist
Immutable, the Ethereum Layer-2 gaming and NFT platform, will unlock between 24M and 27M IMX tokens on Sep 5 at 05:00 UTC. Valued at around $13–14M, the event represents about 1.3% of supply and could weigh on short-term liquidity. Since IMX is heavily tied to GameFi and NFT market sentiment, emissions from this unlock may affect both token price and project ecosystem funding.
Token Unlocks in Mid and Late September 2025
1. Aptos (APT): On Sep 12, Aptos will release ~$47–50M in tokens, adding about 1.6% to its circulating supply and testing demand for this layer-1 blockchain.
2. Pump.fun (PUMP): Scheduled for Sep 14, Pump.fun unlocks ~$34M, nearly 3% of supply, which could spark volatility in this memecoin-driven project.
3. Sei (SEI): Sei will unlock ~$27M on Sep 15, representing 1.6% of supply, with its trading-focused ecosystem likely sensitive to new emissions.
4. Starknet (STRK): On Sep 15, Starknet unlocks ~$16M worth of tokens, releasing 3.3% of supply into a market closely watching Ethereum scaling plays.
5. Arbitrum (ARB): Arbitrum’s Sep 16 unlock adds ~$45M (1.7% of supply), making it one of the largest L2 events this month for traders to monitor.
6. Velo (VELO): Velo faces a significant unlock on Sep 17 worth ~$28M, equating to 11.4% of its supply and posing notable supply-side pressure.
7. LayerZero (ZRO): On Sep 20, LayerZero will release ~$47.5M in tokens, a major unlock exceeding 10% of its circulating supply.
How to Trade Token Unlock Season on BingX
Token unlocks can create sharp, short-lived opportunities or heavy downside risks. To trade them effectively, you need to prepare ahead of time, track supply dynamics, and use BingX tools to manage execution and risk.
1. Know the clock. Most unlocks drop at 00:00 or 12:00 UTC, so plan your orders and liquidity before the hour to avoid chasing volatile moves.
2. Size vs. float matters. Don’t just look at the dollar value, focus on the % of circulating supply being unlocked. A 2–3% release in a thinly traded token can hit harder than a larger unlock in a deep market.
3. Track recipient type. Tokens going to team or treasury wallets may stay locked longer, while investor or emissions unlocks are more likely to hit the market quickly. Check vesting dashboards like Tokenomist for wallet details.
4. Use BingX tools.
• Spot & Perps: Short into pre-unlock rallies or buy post-dump stabilization depending on order book conditions.
• BingX AI: Monitor real-time sentiment, order flow, and volatility alerts to avoid entering at the worst levels.
• Risk controls: Mark invalidation levels (e.g., prior day’s VWAP or support), use tight leverage, and set alerts 30–60 minutes before and after unlock windows.
5. Mind narrative risk. If the project has upcoming catalysts (mainnet launch, token listing, or governance upgrade), that bullish momentum can absorb new supply. Always cross-check roadmaps and community updates before trading around unlocks.
6. Execution timing matters.
• Before the hour: Use BingX AI to gauge stress in the order book and place bracket orders with stops and targets.
• During unlock: Watch 1–5m candles for stop cascades and liquidity absorption; keep sizing small in the first 15 minutes.
• After unlock: If price holds above support with spot demand and cooling perp funding, look for mean-reversion longs. If breakdowns continue with rising open interest and negative CVD, stick to trend-following shorts.
Risk Checklist for September Token Unlocks
With billions in tokens set to be released, traders should be aware of key risk factors that can amplify volatility and shape market reactions throughout the month.
1. Stacked calendar: September’s mid-month is especially heavy, with Aptos, Sei, Arbitrum, and LayerZero all unlocking between Sep 12–20. This concentration of events can fragment liquidity across pairs and cause sharper slippage if multiple tokens release supply around the same time.
2. Mode mix: Not all unlocks behave the same. Cliff unlocks create sudden supply shocks in a single drop, while linear unlocks bleed tokens into the market over weeks. September’s calendar includes both, meaning traders need to prepare for both sharp one-day volatility and extended supply pressure.
3. Media narratives: World Liberty Financial’s (WLFI) Trump-backed unlock adds political spotlight and speculative hype, increasing the chance of wider spreads and exaggerated moves. Media-driven attention can amplify volatility beyond what the raw unlock numbers suggest.
Conclusion
September 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most eventful months for token unlocks, with billions in supply set to hit the market across major projects like Sui, Aptos, Arbitrum, and Ethena. While these events can create short-term volatility, they also provide valuable insights into project tokenomics, investor behavior, and overall market resilience. For traders, the key is preparation, including tracking unlock schedules, monitoring liquidity, and using tools like BingX AI to respond in real time.
Remember, token unlocks do not guarantee predictable outcomes: some may trigger heavy selling, while others could be absorbed smoothly. Always approach unlock season with sound risk management, limit exposure to oversized positions, and be prepared for unexpected price swings.
