In decentralized finance (DeFi), the world of tokens holds great promise, yet that promise can be slow to develop. Investor movements, for better or worse, are a huge part of shaping DeFi market sentiment.
One thing to understand about DeFi tokens is that their value is heavily influenced by the workings of a certain type of smart contract: when investors are set to receive unlocked tokens, that’s usually not a good sign for DeFi token prices.
In the next three months, there are several important DeFi token unlock events planned that could significantly affect the market. In this article, we examine the most consequential of these near-term unlocks to understand what they might portend for DeFi tokens and the ecosystem as a whole. From protocols focused on providing liquidity to those native to DeFi, these upcoming unlocks look set to greatly influence investor behavior and the capital that flows in and out of the DeFi space.
Key Unlocks in the DeFi Ecosystem
Many tokens from the DeFi sector are about to unlock a lot of their tokens in the next months. The overall effect should be most noticeable from projects that focus on providing liquidity across different blockchains, as they tend to have the largest amounts of tokens being unlocked. These unlocks are happening even as the DeFi sector keeps on evolving, with more and more focus on providing liquidity across different blockchains and new mechanisms like staking.
1. $MAV – 6% Unlock (2.37M Tokens on Apr 1)
MAV, a token linked to DeFi staking, is unlocking 6% of its total supply—2.37 million tokens—on April 1. The event might be expected to create some stir in the markets. Given that MAV is associated with staking in the DeFi segment, the release of fresh supply could have some market effect, leading to price changes as holders decide how much MAV they want to keep or part with. Total crypto market cap today is just under $1 trillion. DeFi tokens account for approximately 12% of the total market cap.
2. $W – 9.96% Unlock (25M Tokens on Apr 3)
One of the more significant releases over the next few months is $W, which will be unlocking a substantial 9.96% of its total supply, or 25 million tokens, on April 3rd. As a key player in cross-chain liquidity protocols, $W’s unlock could have a far-reaching impact on its market position. Cross-chain liquidity remains one of the most vital components of DeFi, enabling smoother transactions across different blockchain networks. Investors in $W may be closely monitoring this unlock to assess any potential shifts in market sentiment. Given the size of the unlock, there could be increased volatility in the short term.
3. $TNSR – 9% Unlock (6.6M Tokens on Apr 8)
TNSR, which directs its attention to liquidity and staking in the DeFi domain, is poised to distribute 9% of its total token allotment on April 8th, corresponding to 6.6 million tokens. This event will be pivotal for holders of $TNSR, as the distribution could offer an ample supply of tokens for them to trade. The liquidity protocols associated with $TNSR may see some interesting price action around the same time, given that investors will be re-evaluating their positions in and around the April 8th date.
4. 19% DBR Unlock (10.16M Tokens on Apr 17)
One of the most prominent tokens on this watchlist, DBR, has a substantial 19% of its total supply—10.16 million tokens—unlocking on April 17th. As a protocol tied to cross-chain liquidity, DBR has captured the attention of DeFi investors. This large unlock might create some short-term selling pressure, as investors take profits and reduce exposure. Of all the tokens on this watchlist, DBR’s April 17 unlock might be the most pronounced in terms of effect on price.
5. $REZ – 15.75% Unlock (6M Tokens on Apr 20)
At last, the DeFi native venture $REZ is about to see 15.75% of its overall token supply, equal to 6 million tokens, released to the public on April 20th. This moderate figure should be impactful, especially since it comes not long after the much larger releases from $W and $DBR.
Like other DeFi projects that have unlocked tokens of late, $REZ is likely to be met with some market volatility as investors reposition themselves in the wake of the unlocking. In any case, watching $REZ and the broader DeFi market on April 20th should be an intriguing prospect.
DeFi Unlock Watchlist: The Biggest Investor Releases Ahead
Private investor unlocks can shake up the market.
Here are the biggest DeFi token unlocks over the next 3 months:$MAV (6%) 2.37M – Apr 1$W (9.96%) 25M – Apr 3$TNSR (9%) 6.6M – Apr 8$DBR (19%) 10.16M – Apr 17$REZ… pic.twitter.com/gS57ysCeI7
— Tokenomist (prev. TokenUnlocks) (@Tokenomist_ai) March 22, 2025
DeFi Token Unlocks: Market Implications
Token unlocking in the DeFi space frequently causes price volatility. When tokens are unlocked, they enter the market—typically, either at a direct sale or through a series of small, apparently harmless dumps. When the price impacts are tallied up, some tokens, perhaps half of those being unlocked, go down in value when they hit the market; others apparently go up. The direction each token takes in the wake of an unlocking event largely hinges on demand, perceived confidence, and the trade-to-hold ratio.
When it comes to liquidity-focused tokens such as $W and $DBR, the attention will be on what their individual protocols do to manage the heightened supply. Cross-chain liquidity protocols are crucial to ease the way of doing business in an environment of multiple blockchains, which makes these unlocks really important if we want to give DeFi a future in terms of interoperability. As the liquidity problem in DeFi seems to become more and more centralized, it’ll be interesting to see how the ecosystem we have managed to build so far deals with the influx of tokens.
DeFi-native projects like $MAV and $REZ could behave quite differently. Even if their unlocks represent a smaller percentage of the total supply, they can still provide a good look at the overall health of DeFi staking and liquidity projects. The tokens we looked at here may not experience the wild price swings that centralized exchange unlocks tend to cause, but the price effect (in either direction) of these unlocks could be substantial simply because they’re happening over such a concentrated timeframe.
Conclusion: Eyes on the Unlocks
In the coming months, attention will be focused on the unlocking of these DeFi tokens. We have a combination of liquidity-focused and DeFi-native projects on the agenda, and they could lead to some volatile market movements. While some of these tokens could see a nice bump in market activity following the unlock, others could come under pressure as the increased circulating supply hits the market.
For DeFi traders and long-term investors, comprehending these forthcoming unlock events is vital for steering through the next chapter of the DeFi market. These unlocks afford a key moment not just for these tokens but also for the broader ecosystem. They provide a look-see (that quickly expands into a full-blown peep show if one is of a mind to stake and participate in DeFi) into how cross-chain liquidity, staking, and decentralized finance will evolve next.
Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services.
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