In a notable development in the cryptocurrency sector, dYdX, a decentralized exchange, is gearing up for a major token release. As reported by Lookonchain on X (formerly Twitter), the exchange plans to unlock 150 million DYDX tokens at midnight UTC on December 1.
This amount represents roughly 30% of the tokens designated for the platform’s investors, founders, and employees. With a current valuation of about $500 million, this release is expected to significantly influence the market dynamics of the crypto exchange and its stakeholders.
dydx will unlock 150M $DYDX($505.5M, 81.63% of Cir. Supply) on Dec 1, of which 83.19M $DYDX($280.35M, 46.15% of Cir. Supply) unlocked to Investors.
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) November 27, 2023
Will unlocking bring huge selling pressure?
Did whales/SmartMoney buy or sell $DYDX?
1/🧵
Here is what you need to know. pic.twitter.com/FszV999TIX
At press time, DYDX was trading at $3.38, indicating a 0.1% decrease within the last 24 hours, as per CoinGecko. Additionally, the trading volume of dYdX (DYDX) has been stated as $186,615 in the last 24 hours, showing a 25.00% increase from the day before and indicating a rise in market activity.
On January 25, dYdX announced a postponement of the originally planned February release to December. This delay followed a challenging period for the exchange, marked by a $9 million loss to its insurance fund, an incident Antonio Juliano the CEO of dYdX labeled a “targeted attack.” The delay initially kindled a surge in the exchange’s token price, reflecting the market’s optimism.
Moreover, the upcoming week will not just witness dYdX’s major token release. Other leading entities in the crypto space are also scheduled for significant token unlocks. For instance, Optimism is on track to release 32.21 million tokens, approximated at $58 million, on November 29. Close on its heels, 1inch is preparing to make available 98.74 million tokens, collectively worth about $34.5 million, on December 1. The combined effect of these releases, especially dYdX’s substantial unlock, is expected to generate considerable market activity.
Significantly, the anticipated impact of dYdX’s vast token release is a topic of intense discussion. Market observers are debating the potential for increased selling pressure due to the sudden availability of a large batch of tokens for trading. Historically, such situations have led to price volatility, influencing both investor sentiment and broader market trends.
Furthermore, the response of major investors and market players, colloquially termed ‘whales’, to this unlock is being closely watched. Their trading decisions, whether to buy or sell, will be crucial in determining the market trajectory of $DYDX and may set a precedent for smaller investors’ strategies.
Adding to the month’s array of significant crypto activities, Aptos and ApeCoin are gearing up for their token releases. Aptos plans to unlock 24.84 million tokens, estimated at $180 million, on December 12, while ApeCoin schedules its 15.16 million token release, valued at $25 million, for December 17. While smaller in scale than dYdX’s unlock, these releases are key events to monitor for potential market impacts.
Besides these unlocks, the crypto community is also keenly awaiting airdrops. Jupiter, a DEX aggregator on Solana, recently announced its airdrop plans, with the claim page going live on Friday. The platform has revised its allocation method to address concerns related to bot activities and users with multiple wallets.
