Several high-profile crypto projects including Solana, Sui, and Optimism, are on the verge of a major token unlock in the next few weeks. However, token unlocking events deposit huge volumes of tokens in the market, which could potentially impact the prices of these cryptocurrencies. 

Ignacio Palomera, CEO of Web3 professional networking platform Bondex and a former investment banker, believes investors should pay close attention.

Upcoming Token Unlocks: Solana, SUI and Optimism 

In the upcoming week, there are several upcoming unlocks for top crypto projects. According to data by Messari, for instance, the Solana team will unlock 12.7K SOL worth around $2.73 million on October 1, 2025. These tokens account for 0.0223% of the total supply. 

According to Tokenomist, in the next 7 days, major one-time unlocks (over $5 million each) will occur for PARTI, JUP, NIL, MBG, SAHARA, VENOM, ALT, UDS, SOON, and others. Meanwhile, large linear unlocks (over $1 million per day) are expected for SOL, WLD, TIA, DOGE, TAO, AVAX,… pic.twitter.com/fA0J9Sf6gl

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) September 22, 2025

Besides Solana, the Sui team has also scheduled a SUI token unlock on October 1. For this token unlock, the team will introduce 44.25 M SUI into the market. According to data by DropsTab, these tokens will account for 0.44% of the total SUI token supply. 

Meanwhile, Optimism also has an OP token unlock scheduled for September 30, 2025, as per data by Tokenomist. For this event, the team will release 31.34 OP, about 1.74% of the supply. These tokens will be worth around $21.97 million. 

Market Impact Relative to Size of Unlock and General Size of the Cryptocurrency

According to Ignacio, these token unlocks could affect the prices of these coins, as well as the general crypto market. Thus, investors must brace for incoming volatility in the next few days. 

“The next month could be rocky for the crypto market, with large token unlocks set to test the price resilience of several major projects,” he said. “A sudden influx of new supply can create a supply-demand imbalance, putting downward pressure on price, especially for projects with weaker fundamentals.”

He further explained that the market reaction depends heavily on the scale of the tokens to be released. According to Ignacio, the impact for these token unlocks is relative to the size of the unlock as well as the size of the project in general. 

“The key is to look at the unlock’s size relative to the token’s current circulating supply and the project’s overall market capitalization. A small unlock on a large and well-established project is nothing to be concerned about. Projects that focus on building utility, rather than simply creating hype, experience less volatility during an unlock,” Ignacio noted.

There have been instances of both extremes in the market. Some projects experience high sell-offs following unlocks whereas other projects remain largely unaffected. However, for investors, this distinction could prove crucial in the next few weeks. 

Long-Term Investors Eye Opportunities

While many traders fear token unlocks, Ignacio argued that long-term investors should see opportunity in the short-term price dips. He said; 

“For long-term investors, a token unlock can be a valuable opportunity. If you believe in a project’s long-term vision and technology, a price-dip caused by an unlock is a great opportunity to accumulate tokens at a discount.” 

Ignacio also pointed out that short-term volatility does not necessarily undermine a project’s potential. Unlocks often trigger knee-jerk selloffs, but tokens backed by strong ecosystems tend to recover as usage and adoption grow. 

Investors with a focus on fundamentals, rather than price speculation, often view these events as moments to build positions. For long-term investors, unlocks resemble the kind of dislocations that have long existed in traditional markets.

Ignacio Pushes for Transparency in Vesting Schedules

The CEO of Bondex also highlighted the importance of transparency. Many projects, he said, still fail to publish clear token release schedules, creating room for sharp and unexpected swings. 

“While some projects aren’t transparent about their vesting schedules, at Bondex we are being as open as possible,” he explained.

To address that gap, Bondex recently launched a dashboard offering live data on token supply, vesting calendars, and decentralized exchange trading pressure. According to Ignacio, the company has also committed to a gradual release of its own tokens. 

“We created a live dashboard with real-time vesting schedules, live supply updates and DEX buy/sell pressure analysis,” Ignacio said. “The founding team’s token vest gradually over three years as we firmly believe in aligning our financial interests with the long-term success of the project,” he added.

As unlocks loom across multiple chains, the coming weeks may reveal which projects have built enough resilience to withstand extra supply. For cautious investors, the events could test nerves. However, for long-term investors, these unlocks could provide the best buying chance in months.