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Seven crypto projects will unlock nearly $200 million worth of tokens between December 15 and 21, led by decentralized exchange Aster’s $75 million release.
Aster will unlock 78.4 million tokens—3.4% of its market cap—as part of a scheduled vesting schedule. The exchange is simultaneously launching an incentive campaign aimed at encouraging holders to retain their tokens, though analysts warn that large unlocks often create selling pressure when market sentiment is weak.
More than 568 million tokens will enter trading venues during the week, raising fresh concerns that weak demand could amplify downside volatility across already fragile markets.
Among the seven scheduled releases, Aster token unlock stands out as the single largest event by both dollar value and token volume.
The decentralized spot and perpetual trading exchange will unlock 78.41 million ASTER tokens valued at approximately $75.36 million.
The release represents 3.41% of ASTER’s market capitalization, making it the most market-sensitive unlock of the week.
CryptoRank analysts note that token unlocks of this scale often act as short-term price catalysts, particularly when broader sentiment is fragile.
Large unlocks tend to test market depth, CryptoRank researchers said in recent commentary, adding that outcomes often depend on whether incentives absorb sell pressure.
The Aster token unlock arrives alongside the launch of Aster’s Double Harvest incentive campaign, Phase 5.
According to an official announcement on Aster’s X account, users must hold at least 444 ASTER continuously throughout the campaign period to qualify for rewards.
Participants must also meet daily perpetual trading volume thresholds in non-Bitcoin and non-Ether markets.
The exchange disclosed that Phase 4 attracted 6,895 qualified users and unlocked a $1 million reward pool, underscoring Aster’s effort to offset supply pressure with user engagement.
“The incentive structure is designed to reward active traders and long-term holders,” Aster said in its announcement, noting that rewards from the completed phase will be distributed to eligible perpetual accounts within seven business days.
The Aster token unlock lands at a moment when macro tailwinds have failed to spark a sustained rally. Despite recent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, Bitcoin and major altcoins remain in corrective territory.
The total crypto market capitalization has slipped 0.5% in the last 24 hours, reflecting cautious sentiment.
Market strategists warn that heavy token supply weeks can intensify downturns if buying interest fails to materialize.
Unlocks don’t kill markets, but they can accelerate existing trends, one digital asset analyst told CoinDesk, pointing to liquidity conditions as the deciding factor.
Beyond the Aster token unlock, LayerZero’s ZRO token ranks second with 24.68 million tokens worth $37.42 million scheduled for release. The unlock accounts for 2.47% of total supply and over 10% of its market valuation.
Arbitrum follows with a 92.63 million ARB token unlock valued at $19.78 million, representing 1.65% of market capitalization. Additional releases from Vana, Yooldo.
Esports, STBL, and Merlin Chain push total supply expansion close to $200 million.
Notably, STBL’s unlock represents 57.7% of its market cap, the highest proportional release of the week.
Price action ahead of the Aster token unlock has been cautious. ASTER has dropped roughly 3% over the past week, trading near $0.93 at the time of writing.
The token peaked at $1.41 on November 19 before entering a corrective phase that dragged prices as low as $0.88 in early December.
Whether the Aster token unlock becomes a short-term setback or a springboard for renewed activity now hinges on trader participation, incentive effectiveness, and broader market recovery.
