Major Token Unlocks in October 2025: $23M+ Supply Shock for ZRO, XPL, MBG, and More

The cryptocurrency market is bracing for a significant influx of newly unlocked tokens next week, potentially injecting over $23 million in fresh supply and heightening volatility amid ongoing trade tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty. According to Token Unlocks data, several prominent projects, including LayerZero (ZRO), Plasma (XPL), MBG (MultiBank Group), Scroll (SCR), SOON, KAITO, Humanity (H), and Venom (VENOM), will release substantial portions of their circulating supplies between October 20 and 25, 2025. This wave comes at a time when DeFi TVL exceeds $150 billion, and investors are closely monitoring for potential sell-offs that could test key support levels in an already jittery market reeling from last week’s $19 billion liquidation cascade.

Breakdown of Key Unlocks: ZRO Leads the Pack

LayerZero (ZRO) kicks off the series on October 20 at 7:00 PM Beijing Time (UTC+8), unlocking approximately 25.71 million tokens—7.86% of its current circulating supply—valued at around $44.2 million at current prices. ZRO, trading at $1.72 with a $506 million market cap, could face downward pressure as this release includes allocations for core contributors and team repurchases, potentially increasing short-term selling activity.

Plasma (XPL) follows on October 25 at 8:00 PM Beijing Time, releasing 88.89 million tokens (4.97% of circulation) worth $36.9 million. As a Layer-1 focused on stablecoin scalability with zero-fee USDT transfers, XPL’s unlock may dilute its $745 million market cap amid competition from faster chains like Solana.

MBG (MultiBank Group) unlocks 15.84 million tokens (11.97% of supply) on October 22 at 8:00 PM Beijing Time, valued at $17.1 million. Despite recent buybacks and RWA integrations, this could test MBG’s $143 million cap.

Other notable releases include Scroll (SCR) unlocking 82.5 million tokens ($14.4 million, 43.42% of supply) on October 22 at 8:00 AM Beijing Time; SOON releasing 15.21 million tokens ($12.8 million, 4.52%) on October 23 at 4:30 PM; KAITO unlocking 8.35 million ($8.7 million, 3.06%) on October 20 at 8:00 PM; Humanity (H) with 62.5 million ($7.3 million, 3.01%) on October 25 at 8:00 AM; and Venom (VENOM) unlocking 59.26 million ($6.2 million, 2.23%) on October 25 at 4:00 PM. These events collectively represent billions in potential market impact, with SCR’s massive 43.42% unlock posing the highest dilution risk.

Market Implications: Volatility and Investor Strategies

Token unlocks often lead to temporary sell-offs as early investors and team members liquidate holdings, potentially exacerbating downward trends in a risk-off environment. Historical data shows unlocks can cause 5-15% price dips, but strong fundamentals like ZRO’s interoperability and XPL’s stablecoin focus may mitigate losses. For DeFi traders, this period calls for caution: Monitor on-chain flows via tools like Arkham Intelligence, and consider hedging with stablecoins or short positions on platforms like Binance. Long-term holders might view dips as accumulation opportunities, especially with upcoming catalysts like ETF approvals and Fed rate cuts.

In a market where volatility remains high (BTC’s 30-day volatility at 3.78%), these unlocks could test broader support levels, but resilient projects may emerge stronger. Investors should DYOR and stay tuned for post-unlock price actions.