Token unlocks, airdrops, and treasury sales add sellable supply to the market on known dates, and thin order books turn that extra supply into large price moves. Projects prepare by publishing unlock calendars, staggering large releases, coordinating with recipients on orderly selling, informing their market maker so bid-side depth and inventory are ready, and notifying exchanges where their agreements require it.
Key takeaways
- Publish an unlock calendar and keep it current.
- Tell your market maker about every supply event in advance.
- Large recipients can sell through OTC desks or structured execution instead of the open book.
- Some exchanges require advance notice of supply changes; MEXC’s terms, for example, require it.
Types of supply events
| Event | Who receives tokens | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Investor or team unlock | Early backers, team | Calendar, recipient communication, MM briefing |
| Airdrop | Community, users | Expect immediate selling by some recipients |
| Exchange launch program | Exchange users | Coordinate with the exchange and MM |
| Treasury sale | The project | Structured execution or OTC, disclosed appropriately |
| Emissions | Stakers, LPs | Continuous supply; model it in KPIs |
A preparation routine
- Four or more weeks before: confirm amounts and recipients; publish or update the calendar.
- Two weeks before: brief the market maker; review inventory and depth targets per venue.
- One week before: confirm any exchange notification duties; prepare community messaging.
- Day of: monitor depth, spreads, and recipient wallet flows.
- After: review what was sold, where, and how the book held up.
Design choices that help
Linear vesting after a cliff, smaller tranches, and clear disclosure make supply easier for markets to absorb. See tokenomics design.
Frequently asked questions
Do token unlocks always push the price down?
Not always, but unlocks increase sellable supply and are widely watched, so the market often prices them in ahead of time. The effect depends on how much of the unlocked supply is actually sold and how much demand and depth exist.
How can a market maker help with an unlock?
By planning inventory and depth so the book can absorb extra selling, and by keeping quotes consistent across venues. A market maker should not be asked to hold the price; that is not a legitimate service.
Should we tell exchanges about upcoming unlocks?
Check your listing agreements. MEXC’s published terms, for instance, require notice before changes to circulating supply or vesting and advance disclosure of significant foreseeable events.
Sources
Last reviewed 11 November 2026. Exchange and platform policies change; always confirm on the official page before acting.
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