Aptos (APT) is set to unlock 11.31 million tokens, representing 1.76% of its circulating supply, valued at approximately $45.24 million, on July 12, 2025. This follows a pattern of monthly unlocks, with recent ones in May and June 2025 valued at $65 million and $53-$59 million, respectively. Historically, APT’s price reaction to unlocks has been inconsistent—post-unlock price changes ranged from a 3.6% increase in April to a 7.8% drop in May. The tokens will be distributed to the community, core contributors, the foundation, and investors, which could introduce volatility if recipients sell.
However, Aptos’ price has shown resilience, recently trading at $4.56 with a 3% daily gain, bolstered by strong network activity (6.7 million weekly active addresses) and its selection as a top candidate for Wyoming’s WYST stablecoin project. The unlocking of 11.31 million Aptos (APT) tokens, worth $45.24 million and representing 1.76% of its circulating supply, on July 12, 2025, has several implications for the Aptos ecosystem, its token price, and stakeholders.
If recipients (community, core contributors, foundation, or investors) sell their unlocked tokens, the increased supply could depress APT’s price, especially in a bearish or neutral market. Historical data shows mixed outcomes—post-unlock price drops (e.g., 7.8% in May 2025) contrast with gains (e.g., 3.6% in April 2025). The unlock’s size (1.76% of circulating supply) is relatively modest, suggesting that a liquid market with strong demand might absorb the new tokens without significant disruption. APT’s recent price resilience ($4.56, up 3% daily) and high network activity (6.7 million weekly active addresses) could mitigate sell-off impacts.
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 19 (Feb 9 – May 2, 2026): big discounts for early bird.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-invest in great global startups.
Register for Tekedia AI Lab: From Technical Design to Deployment (next edition begins Jan 24 2026).
Tokens allocated to the community and core contributors incentivize participation, development, and governance. This could strengthen Aptos’ decentralized ecosystem, especially as it competes with high-throughput blockchains like Solana. Funds directed to the Aptos Foundation may support marketing, partnerships, or technical upgrades, while investor unlocks could enhance liquidity and attract institutional interest. However, investor sales might signal profit-taking, potentially undermining confidence.
Aptos’ selection as a top candidate for Wyoming’s WYST stablecoin and its robust network metrics (e.g., high transaction volume) could overshadow unlock concerns, maintaining bullish sentiment if fundamentals remain strong. Repeated unlocks (e.g., $65M in May, $53-$59M in June 2025) may create a psychological overhang, where traders anticipate sell-offs, amplifying volatility. Negative sentiment on X posts about unlocks could exacerbate this.
Community Members receive tokens, empowering them to stake, vote, or trade, fostering long-term engagement. Community-focused unlocks align with Aptos’ goal of decentralization. If large holders (e.g., investors) sell, community members’ token value could decline, reducing their financial incentive to participate. Unlocked tokens reward developers and team members for their work, potentially boosting morale and innovation (e.g., enhancing Aptos’ Move programming language or scaling solutions).
Contributors may sell to realize gains, especially if they received tokens at lower valuations, adding to supply pressure. Early investors, such as VCs, gain liquidity to sell or reallocate capital, which could attract new investors seeking exposure to Aptos. Selling could signal a lack of long-term confidence, spooking retail investors. Investors also face dilution risks from recurring unlocks.
Tokens allocated to the foundation support strategic initiatives (e.g., partnerships like Wyoming’s WYST project), enhancing Aptos’ adoption. Mismanagement or perceived over-allocation to the foundation could spark community backlash, as seen in some X posts criticizing tokenomics in similar projects. Strong ecosystem growth and positive news (e.g., network activity, partnerships) could drive price appreciation, benefiting holders.
Short-term traders may face losses if unlocks trigger sell-offs. The divide here is between long-term holders (optimistic about fundamentals) and short-term speculators (sensitive to supply shocks). A bullish crypto market could absorb the unlock with minimal price impact, while a bearish market might amplify selling pressure. Tracking on-chain data post-unlock (e.g., wallet movements to exchanges) will reveal whether recipients hold or sell.
The Aptos token unlock on July 12, 2025, presents both opportunities and risks. While it supports ecosystem growth by rewarding contributors and funding development, it risks short-term price volatility if recipients sell. The divide lies in stakeholder incentives—community and contributors gain long-term benefits, while investors and traders face immediate financial decisions. Aptos’ strong fundamentals and network activity suggest resilience, but market conditions and recipient behavior will determine the unlock’s net impact.