January Token Unlocks $5.5 Billion! TRUMP, ONDO Lead the Wave of Selling Pressure Approaching

In January 2026, 5.5 billion dollars worth of tokens will be unlocked, with ONDO, BGB, HYPE, and TRUMP accounting for 35% (1.94 billion USD). ONDO will unlock 840 million USD, BGB will unlock 500 million USD, and TRUMP will unlock 270 million USD. During periods of market illiquidity, large-scale unlocks may trigger significant volatility.

Token Unlock Schedule and Selling Pressure Assessment for the Four Major Tokens

(Source: Tokenomist)

Ondo will lead the January token unlock, with 1.9 billion tokens unlocking on January 19, valued at over 840 million USD at current market prices. According to Tokenomist data, these tokens will be distributed to founders, team members, community members, and private investors. While this diversified distribution disperses selling pressure from a single source, it also means that multiple stakeholders may choose to cash out at different times, creating ongoing selling pressure.

BGB will issue 140 million tokens on January 26, nearly worth 500 million USD. Of these, 80 million will be allocated to the team, and 60 million for branding and promotion. The portion held by the team usually has a longer lock-up period, but the promotional tokens may enter circulation more quickly, requiring close monitoring of exchange inflow data.

Hyperliquid will unlock 12.4 million tokens on January 7 for core contributors, valued at 327 million USD, making it the closest to maturity among the four major tokens. As of press time, HYPE is trading at $26.41, up 5.7% in the past 24 hours. Despite the upcoming unlock, the upward momentum remains, which may indicate that the market has already priced in the unlock or that buying pressure is sufficient to absorb the upcoming supply.

The official Trump Memecoin plans to issue 50 million tokens worth 270 million USD to founders and team members on January 18. Although smaller in scale than ONDO and BGB, considering its market position and liquidity, this supply remains significant and will contribute notably to the overall supply increase in January. Memecoin holders tend to be more short-term speculative, so post-unlock selling pressure may be more concentrated.

Risk Ratings for the Four Major Token Unlocks

ONDO Risk Rating: High: An astonishing 840 million USD unlock in a single day, with allocations to founders, team, and private investors—holders with very low costs and strong profit-taking motivation. If market liquidity is insufficient, prices could see a 20% to 30% correction around the unlock date.

BGB Risk Rating: Medium: The 500 million USD unlock is divided between the team and promotional activities. The team-held portion is usually more stable, but the promotional part may circulate quickly. As a platform token on exchanges, BGB has certain practical utility support, making it relatively resilient to declines.

HYPE Risk Rating: Low to Medium: The 327 million USD unlock is only for core contributors, who generally have more confidence in the project and are less inclined to sell in the short term. The current price remains upward, possibly already pricing in the unlock.

TRUMP Risk Rating: Extremely High: The 270 million USD unlock is for founders and team members. As a Memecoin lacking fundamental support, it relies entirely on market sentiment. If founders choose to cash out post-unlock, it could trigger a market confidence collapse and chain reaction of sell-offs.

Market Impact Mechanisms of Token Unlocks

Token unlocking is a routine part of crypto lock-up mechanisms designed to prevent early or sudden increases in circulating supply. These plans typically include initial lock-ups and periodic unlocks, balancing long-term incentives with market impact control. However, when overall market liquidity is low or market sentiment is fragile, large-scale token releases can influence price dynamics in the short term.

The impact of one-time unlocks versus linear releases differs significantly. In January, approximately 2.5 billion USD will be released via a one-time unlock, meaning all tokens are unlocked simultaneously, causing an immediate supply shock. Additionally, 3 billion USD will be released gradually through linear unlocking over time, distributing tokens progressively.