Massive Token Unlocks in October 2025: How Traders Can Prepare

The crypto market is entering another pivotal week as several major token unlocks are set to inject fresh supply into circulation. In October 2025, projects like LayerZero (ZRO), Plasma (XPL), and Soon (SOON) are scheduled to release millions of tokens worth over $90 million combined.

These unlocks are part of broader vesting schedules that reward early contributors, investors, and community members, but they can also trigger short-term volatility as new tokens enter the market. Understanding these events can help traders and long-term investors position themselves strategically.

Key Takeaways

• LayerZero (ZRO), Plasma (XPL), and Soon (SOON) lead the fourth week of October 2025 unlocks.
• A total of 129.81 million tokens valued at over $93 million will be released.
• Unlocks can temporarily increase selling pressure but often set the stage for renewed market activity.
• LayerZero focuses on interoperability, Plasma on stablecoin scalability, and Soon on Solana-based rollups.
• Smart investors monitor unlock cycles to find entry opportunities when the market overreacts to new supply.

Why Token Unlocks Matter

Token unlocks are essential to understanding a project’s long-term tokenomics. Each unlock event releases a portion of previously vested tokens into the open market. While this increases liquidity, it can also influence short-term price behavior.

However, not every unlock is bearish. Historically, strong projects often recover quickly after unlocks, as markets digest new supply and real demand returns. For example, previous unlocks from Arbitrum (ARB) and Aptos (APT) triggered brief dips followed by steady rebounds.

In other words, unlocks may create volatility, but they also create opportunity.

Read Also: Is Token Unlocks Good or Bad? Things You Need to Note

LayerZero (ZRO) – Expanding the Omnichain Network

Unlock Date: October 20, 2025

Tokens to be Unlocked: 25.71 million ZRO

Value: $42.68 million

Percentage of Total Supply: 2.57%

LayerZero is one of the most promising interoperability protocols in crypto. It enables seamless communication between blockchains, forming the foundation for cross-chain DeFi, NFTs, and gaming ecosystems.

On October 20, 25.71 million ZRO tokens will be unlocked, accounting for 7.86% of the circulating supply. The allocation includes:

• 13.42 million ZRO for strategic partners
• 10.63 million ZRO for core contributors
• 1.67 million ZRO for token repurchases

This unlock is part of LayerZero’s broader roadmap to expand developer participation and liquidity across its supported ecosystems.

Despite the potential for short-term price movement, the project’s strong technical base and growing network integrations with platforms like Stargate Finance and Aptos make ZRO one of the more resilient tokens to watch this month.

Plasma (XPL) – Fueling Ecosystem Growth

Unlock Date: October 25, 2025

Tokens to be Unlocked: 88.89 million XPL

Value: $36.27 million

Percentage of Total Supply: 0.89%

Plasma (XPL) is a next-generation Layer-1 blockchain built to optimize stablecoin transactions. It features zero-fee USDT transfers, custom gas tokens, and support for confidential payments, making it one of the few platforms tackling scalability and privacy simultaneously.

On October 25, the project will unlock 88.89 million XPL tokens, equivalent to 4.97% of the circulating supply. All tokens will be directed toward ecosystem expansion and network growth, funding developer incentives, liquidity programs, and user rewards.

This unlock could momentarily affect prices, but the strategic focus on development and user adoption may turn it into a long-term positive. Plasma’s roadmap positions it as a key player in stablecoin infrastructure, potentially rivaling platforms like Stellar and Tron.

Read Also: Is Token Unlocks Good or Bad? Things You Need to Note

Soon (SOON) – Powering the SVM Rollup Revolution

Unlock Date: October 23, 2025

Tokens to be Unlocked: 15.21 million SOON

Value: $14.22 million

Percentage of Total Supply: 1.55%

Soon (SOON) has emerged as one of the most dynamic new players in the Layer-2 ecosystem. Built with Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) technology, Soon brings Solana’s high-speed performance to a multi-chain world.

The upcoming unlock on October 23 includes 15.21 million tokens, representing 4.52% of the released supply. Allocations are as follows:

• 8.30 million SOON for NFT holder airdrops
• 4.17 million SOON for ecosystem development
• 2.22 million SOON for community rewards
• 520,830 SOON for liquidity initiatives

This community-focused allocation underlines Soon’s mission to accelerate adoption through its “Super Adoption Stack,” which integrates Web3 onboarding, gaming, and social dApps.

Given its recent 400% surge in trading volume and strong backers, including Solana Labs and Coinbase Ventures, SOON remains a critical project to watch in the post-unlock recovery window.

Additional Unlocks to Monitor

Besides ZRO, XPL, and SOON, several other notable projects are preparing token releases this week:

• Multibank Group (MBG) – Institutional liquidity-focused platform.
• Scroll (SCR) – Layer-2 zkEVM project expanding Ethereum compatibility.
• Undeads Games (UDS) – Play-to-earn project entering beta testing phase.
• KAITO (KAITO) – AI data indexing network powering Web3 intelligence tools.

Each of these projects contributes to unique sectors of the crypto market, from gaming to data analytics, and their token unlocks could shift sector-level capital flows.

Read Also: Best Stablecoin Use Cases For Global Payments in 2025

Market Impact and Investor Strategy

Historically, large token unlocks tend to produce short-term volatility followed by medium-term accumulation phases. This occurs as initial holders sell to realize profits, while institutional buyers and retail investors accumulate at lower prices.

For traders, this period presents opportunities to:

• Accumulate during post-unlock dips on fundamentally strong tokens.
• Monitor on-chain data for whale inflows and liquidity shifts.
• Avoid speculative hype and focus on long-term utility-driven projects.

Tokens like ZRO, XPL, and SOON stand out because their unlock allocations are productive, aimed at ecosystem growth rather than insider selloffs.

Final Thoughts

The October 2025 token unlock wave showcases how tokenomics transparency continues to shape crypto market behavior. Projects like LayerZero, Plasma, and Soon are leading examples of responsible allocation that promotes ecosystem expansion rather than short-term speculation.

While short-term volatility is likely, long-term investors should view these events as entry points into high-potential ecosystems with solid fundamentals. The coming weeks will test how effectively each project balances supply growth with real-world adoption, and those that succeed could define the next phase of the crypto bull cycle.

Read Also: WLFI Token Allocation: Will the Team Have No Unlock at Launch

FAQs

What are token unlocks in crypto?

Token unlocks are scheduled events where a portion of a project’s locked tokens become available for trading, increasing circulating supply.

How do unlocks affect token prices?

Unlocks often cause short-term price dips due to added supply, but strong projects with real utility tend to recover quickly as demand stabilizes.

Which tokens are unlocking in October 2025?

The largest unlocks this month come from LayerZero (ZRO), Plasma (XPL), and Soon (SOON), with a combined value exceeding $90 million.

Are unlocks always bearish events?

Not necessarily. Unlocks can enhance liquidity and attract new investors if allocations are aimed at growth rather than insider selling.

How can investors prepare for unlock events?

Follow token unlock calendars, study allocation details, and look for ecosystem expansion signals that indicate long-term potential.