Bitcoin and Altcoin Markets Face Pressure from $2B Token Unlocks and $11B BTC Distribution

Key Takeaways:

• Supply Events Impacting Crypto Market: Token unlocks and Bitcoin distributions totaling billions of dollars are exerting downward pressure on the crypto market, hindering a meaningful recovery.
• Potential Bearish Sign: Large token unlocks, often viewed as bearish events, inject significant supply into the market as assets previously locked up are distributed to team members, organizations, and investors, including venture capital firms.
• Altcoins Vulnerable to Selling Pressure: Altcoins face potential selling pressure as venture capital investors may seek to capitalize on recent gains, potentially limiting the upside momentum of tokens subject to unlocks.
• Bitcoin Distribution Concerns: Over $11 billion worth of Bitcoin is set to be distributed to creditors of crypto exchange Gemini’s Earn program and the defunct Mt. Gox exchange, raising concerns about the impact on Bitcoin prices.
• Market Outlook and Relief Potential: Amidst the supply events, there’s anticipation that repayments, particularly from the FTX case, could inject billions of dollars of liquidity back into the market, potentially offering some relief from the current downward pressure.

Read More: Bitcoin Price Prediction

Crypto markets are experiencing downward pressure as concerns mount over a significant wave of token unlocks and Bitcoin distributions on the horizon. Bitcoin price, the flagship crypto, saw a 2.5% decline to $61,500 late on Wednesday, while other major altcoins like Solana and Bitcoin Cash recorded even steeper losses, with both down over 7%.

According to a report by crypto analytics firm 10x Research, a rapid succession of token unlocks totaling nearly $2 billion over the next ten weeks could dampen the market for altcoins. These token unlocks typically increase supply by releasing assets previously locked up in vesting contracts to various stakeholders, including team members, organizations, and early investors such as venture capital firms.

The impending unlocks include substantial amounts of various tokens, such as aptos (APT), starkware (STRK), Arbitrum (ARB), Immutable X’s (IMX), Avalanche’s (AVAX), and others. Additionally, over $11 billion worth of Bitcoin is set to be distributed to creditors of crypto exchange Gemini’s Earn program and the now-defunct crypto marketplace Mt. Gox. This influx of supply raises concerns about increased selling pressure and its potential impact on market sentiment.

Arthur Cheong, founder and chief investment officer of DeFiance Capital, suggested that the upcoming FTX repayments could inject $3-$5 billion of crypto-native liquidity into the market, offering hope amid the prevailing uncertainty. However, the overall outlook remains cautious, with the market experiencing volatile and bearish conditions.

As the crypto market grapples with these supply events and looming distributions, investors should closely monitor developments and exercise caution in their trading decisions. The impending influx of tokens and Bitcoin distributions could prolong the ongoing corrective phase and delay any significant recovery in the near term.

Source: CoinDesk