Crypto Market Eyes Heavy Token Unlock Week as Bitcoin Struggles to Rebound

The cryptocurrency market is closing the week on a cautious note. Bitcoin has managed a modest 2% rebound after days of selling pressure, but the world’s largest digital asset still remains down 4.5% over the past seven days.

Investors are now turning their focus to a packed schedule of token unlocks that could inject fresh volatility into altcoin trading. A series of projects – spanning AI, DeFi, and cross-chain infrastructure – are set to release hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of tokens into circulation over the coming days.

Major Unlocks Ahead

According to data compiled by Bitcoinsistemi.com, several high-profile unlocks are scheduled this week (all times UTC+3):

October 20: Kaito ($8.89M), Sapien ($1.01M), and LayerZero ($42.92M) begin the week with early unlocks totaling over $50 million in new supply.
October 21: Meteora’s MET token debuts, alongside releases from Plume ($17.94M), Akedo ($1.48M), Aria.AI ($2.32M), and Lazio Fan Token ($3.06M).
October 22: Cross-chain projects take the stage as 0G ($16.07M), Hyperlane ($3.32M), Scroll ($14.67M), and Space ID ($1.42M) see major token unlocks.
October 23: Zora leads with a $91.43 million release, joined by Available ($2.15M).
October 24: SoSoValue ($5.11M), Nillion ($3.05M), Initia ($1.33M), and Aspecta ($1.54M) add to the week’s growing supply list.
October 25: ChainOpera AI ($53.79M), Plasma ($37.75M), Humanity ($15.03M), Venom ($6.02M), and OVERTAKE ($4.41M) follow, marking one of the heaviest single days for token unlocks this month.
October 26: GateToken ($106.65M) and Sahara AI ($6.85M) round out the week, releasing over $110 million in tokens.

Altogether, this week’s unlocks represent well over $400 million in new token supply entering the market – a potential catalyst for renewed short-term pressure on altcoins already under strain.

Bitcoin Still Faces Headwinds

Despite its minor recovery, Bitcoin continues to trade in a fragile zone as investors weigh U.S. economic uncertainty and risk-off sentiment across global markets. Analysts caution that heavy token unlocks could add additional turbulence, particularly for mid-cap projects with limited liquidity.

With the month-end approaching and volatility returning, traders are bracing for a week that could redefine short-term market sentiment – one where even small moves in supply and demand might have outsized effects.