The final week of August is shaping up to be a busy one for the crypto markets. More than $620M in token unlocks will take place between 25 and 31 August 2025. Major events include cliff unlocks from Sui, Jupiter, Optimism, and Kamino, alongside continuous releases from Solana, Worldcoin, Dogecoin, and other projects. Token release schedules are pre-set and widely tracked. Still, traders are bracing for potential crypto market volatility as circulating supplies expand.
Sui Token Unlock Adds $159M to Circulating Supply
The largest event of the week comes from Sui, with 44 million tokens worth around $159 million scheduled for release. Much of the allocation stems from early investor vesting schedules and team distributions. Supporters see the unlock as a step toward deeper liquidity and long-term growth. Skeptics, however, warn of near-term sell pressure if newly released tokens reach the market quickly.
Jupiter Token Unlock on 28 August
Jupiter (JUP), a leading Solana-based DEX aggregator, will release 53.47 million tokens on 28 August, valued at roughly $27 million. This cliff unlock represents about 1.8% of its supply and is expected to increase available liquidity within the Solana ecosystem. Market watchers will be closely monitoring whether the added supply causes a short-term dip or merely smooths out trading activity.
Optimism Token Unlock Scheduled for 31 August
The Ethereum Layer 2 project Optimism will see a release of 31.3 million tokens, worth around $24 million, on 31 August. Allocations are earmarked for governance, investors, and ecosystem development. As one of the most closely followed Layer 2 tokens, the Optimism token unlock could serve as a barometer. Traders will be watching to see how markets digest increased supply in a project with a large, active community.
Kamino Token Unlock Adds $14M to Supply on 30 August
Another notable event is the Kamino token unlock on 30 August, which will release 229 million tokens—valued at around $14 million. This represents a significant 6–7% increase in supply. Given Kamino’s smaller market capitalization, traders expect sharper price swings compared to more liquid projects. This unlock is one of the largest relative supply increases of the week.
Other Notable Altcoin Unlocks
Several mid-tier projects, including Huma Finance (HUMA), Venom (VENOM), Sophon (SOPH), AltLayer (ALT), Sahara AI (SAHARA), and Renzo (REZ), will also release tokens this week, each in the $6–10 million range. While smaller in absolute value, these events can create outsized effects in low-liquidity environments. For niche traders, they remain important to track.
Continuous Linear Unlocks: Solana and More
Beyond cliff events, several major projects are undergoing linear unlocks that steadily add to supply throughout the week. The most significant is the Solana token unlock, which will add about $102 million worth of tokens in gradual increments. Other projects, including Worldcoin, Dogecoin, TAO, Polkadot, AVAX, TIA, ENS, ETHFI, and JTO, will each see daily releases worth over $1 million. These steady unlocks tend to have a softer market impact. Combined with cliff unlocks, however, they add meaningful liquidity to the market.
Market Impact: Sell Pressure or Opportunity?
In total, this week’s altcoin unlocks will push more than $620M in token unlocks into circulation. Historically, such events have produced mixed outcomes. On the bearish side, sudden supply increases can trigger sell pressure in crypto markets, especially for tokens with smaller trading volumes. On the other hand, since unlocks are pre-scheduled and widely anticipated, much of the impact may already be priced in. In some cases, added liquidity can even attract new participants. The scale of this week’s releases makes it a critical test of market resilience.
What Traders Should Watch
Key dates to monitor are 28 August (Jupiter), 30 August (Kamino), and 31 August (Optimism). Cliff unlocks on those days may cause sharper market moves. Traders should also keep an eye on Sui’s $159M release, the largest of the week, and the continuous drip from the Solana token unlock. Volume spikes, order book depth, and sentiment around these unlocks will likely determine whether the events prove bearish or benign.
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The last week of August brings a packed token unlock calendar, headlined by Sui, Jupiter, Optimism, and Kamino, alongside steady releases from Solana and other altcoins. While these crypto token unlocks present risks of short-term volatility, they also create opportunities for traders looking to capitalize on liquidity shifts. Whether they drive markets lower or simply strengthen trading activity, this week’s unlocks will be a decisive factor shaping sentiment as August closes.
Readers’ frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between “cliff” and “linear” unlocks?
Cliff unlocks release a lump sum at a single moment (e.g., Sui, Jupiter, Optimism, Kamino this week). Linear unlocks drip tokens gradually over a period (e.g., Solana and others), which tends to smooth market impact. Both raise the circulating supply; cliffs often concentrate short-term volatility around the event time.
Do unlocks always make prices fall?
No. Reactions depend on liquidity, how concentrated recipients are, broader market conditions, and whether the event was already priced in. Some unlocks coincide with dips; others pass quietly or even deepen market liquidity. Watch order-book depth, volumes, and funding rates around the schedule.
Who receives the unlocked tokens, and can they sell them immediately?
Recipients typically include teams, early investors, treasuries, and incentive programs. Some allocations require claim transactions or follow internal/treasury policies or OTC arrangements. Retail holders don’t receive these unless they’re part of public incentive distributions. Selling depends on recipient’s discretion and any applicable restrictions.
What Is In It For You? Action items you might want to consider
Set event-driven alerts and trade plans
Create a calendar and price alerts for JUP (Aug 28), KMNO (Aug 30), and OP (Aug 31), and flag the larger SUI release. Define your entry/exit levels, invalidation, and position sizes before the unlock window. Monitor the 1–2 hours into the event and the 24 hours after for volatility spikes.
Track on-chain and exchange inflows
Watch labeled team/treasury wallets and known investor addresses for transfers into exchanges around the altcoin unlocks. Rising exchange deposits and funding-rate flips often precede short-term sell pressure. If inflows jump, tighten risk (reduce leverage, narrow targets) or wait for confirmation before entries.
Manage liquidity risk and hedge exposure
For thinner markets (e.g., KMNO), use limit orders, wider slippage tolerances with care, and smaller clips. Consider short-dated hedges (options or perps) into the event if you must hold spot. Prefer TWAP/DCA for entries on bigger names (SUI, OP, JUP) and set hard stops to avoid cascading moves.
