Over $657 million in altcoins are scheduled to enter circulation this week.
HYPE tops one-time unlocks with about $333 million in tokens becoming tradable.
The unlock arrives as the crypto market posted gains over the past day.
The first full trading week of 2026 opens with a large token supply unlock event. Data from Tokenomist shows over $657 million worth of altcoins are scheduled to enter circulation between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12.
Token unlocks raise near-term sell risk because new supply becomes available at once. The impact depends on size, timing, and how fast the market can absorb the tokens. This comes amid a short market bounce as Bitcoin and top altcoins posted gains over the past day.
According to Tokenomist, major one-off token unlocks over the next seven days (each worth over $5 million) include HYPE, ENA, APT, LINEA, and MOVE. Major linear unlocks over the same period (daily unlocks worth over $1 million) include RAIN, SOL, TRUMP, WLD, RIVER, DOGE, AVAX,… pic.twitter.com/dMIPC0rpqM
These tokens face higher short-term price risk because this supply hits the market all at the same time. HYPE leads these unlocks with around $333 million in tokens set to enter circulation in a single release. This equals about 3.25% of the total HYPE supply becoming tradable at once.
However, many analysts are optimistic about an altcoin rally in Q1 2026. Crypto expert Austin Hilton recently predicted that 2026 could see “one of the biggest altcoin seasons.”
Interestingly, Binance flow data suggests that Enjin Coin (ENJ), Amp(AMP), and Smooth Love Potion (SLP) are showing the highest negative netflows this week. Tokens leaving exchanges reduce near-term sell supply and often lead to short bursts of upside.
Binance altcoin netflow | Source: CryptoQuant
Moreover, meme coins have also seen renewed interest recently. According to the data by CoinMarketCap, the meme sector market cap is currently around $47.04 billion, up 28% over the past week.
Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.
A crypto journalist with over 5 years of experience in the industry, Parth has worked with major media outlets in the crypto and finance world, gathering experience and expertise in the space after surviving bear and bull markets over the years. Parth is also an author of 4 self-published books.