WhiteBIT Coin (WBT) Unlocks 1.15B Tokens, Leading May's $4.59B Token Supply Dynamics Shift

Several crypto projects are set to unlock new tokens worth in excess of $4.59 billion this May, according to data.

This month, the main unlock concerns WhiteBIT Coin ($WBT), the native token of the prominent centralized exchange WhiteBIT. A total of 39.5 million $WBT tokens, valued at around $1.15 billion, are being released into the market.

This huge influx comes from WhiteBIT Funds 2, a multi-purpose allocation that serves several strategic functions nestled within the WhiteBIT ecosystem.

May 2025 Supply Release: $4.59 Billion in New Token Supply

This month, over $4.5B in new supply enters the market led by a notable unlock from $WBT (WhiteBIT Coin)

🔓 39.5M $WBT will be released, valued at ~$1.15B

This release comes from WhiteBIT Funds 2 a multi-purpose allocation serving several strategic functions within the WhiteBIT ecosystem.

According to the exchange, the fresh tokens will serve multiple purposes: enhancing the liquidity of the platform; strengthening treasury reserves; boosting platform ecosystem growth; providing user incentives; rewarding team members; and increasing platform security.

WhiteBIT is not alone in this approach, but it serves as a prime example of a crypto platform undertaking a token distribution exercise. WhiteBIT has diversified the allocation of these tokens.

While it is impossible to determine the direct effect of this on the market, it is part of a long-term user engagement strategy.

Even with stated intentions, such a large token release is bound to cause unrest. Historically, when this many tokens have been unlocked, the selling pressure has ramped up. And if most of these tokens land in the hands of secondary-market traders, that pressure will almost certainly escalate.

Of course, the big question is: How many tokens will the wallets associated with the exchange and the on-chain activity of the exchange itself be responsible for? And what’s going to happen to them?

Market Implications and Trader Sentiment

The May unlocks are particularly significant because of the scale and the timing. They coincide with a not very stable market. The crypto market seems to be recovering a little after a very turbulent first quarter, but we’ve seen in the past that the unlocking of large quantities of tokens can push prices down. So, natural price finding mechanisms, right? If there’s not organic demand for a token, if it’s not a Bitcoin, Ethereum, or a stablecoin, then just the addition of $4.59 billion in circulating supply could present some headwinds. And even some of those names—like a Litecoin, for instance—right now, we’re looking at a situation where just the sheer introduction of that much supply could push prices down.

Both retail and institutional traders are now paying closer attention to tokenomics. This is especially true when it comes to matters like emissions schedules and lock-up periods. Retail and institutional traders both are now paying closer attention to tokenomics. This is especially true when it comes to emissions schedules and lock-up periods.

The fact that $WBT makes up such a large portion of this month’s total unlocks makes it a high-risk, short-term speculation opportunity. And yet, long-term holders can find some comfort in WhiteBIT’s positioning of the unlock as a strategic growth opportunity.

Key in the coming weeks will be the interpretation by the market of WhiteBIT’s use of the released funds. If these tokens are deployed effectively to increase user acquisition, incentivize liquidity, and expand platform features, the long-term benefit could outweigh the short-term dilution concerns. Conversely, if large amounts are sold into the market or moved to exchanges, $WBT could experience notable downward pressure.

A Broader Look at Token Supply Trends

Although this month’s headlines are dominated by WBT, it is only one of many tokens that are part of May’s total emission of $4.59 billion. Scheduled unlocks across the crypto sector are becoming much more of a talking point; much more a closely scrutinized feature of the tokens that trade in the crypto culture. What this means is that we can now much more easily see what risks are being taken on scheduled unlocks across the crypto sector. And if we can see it, then traders, analysts, and the communities part of the various protocols can see it too.

May’s figure counts among the highest monthly totals recently seen. It comes as a critical moment for the market. More and more projects are nearing the end of their vesting schedule and are unlocking long-held reserves. Projects of this sort are introducing a good number of tokens to the market. Supply and demand are becoming much more vital to watch.

Currently, the most significant event is the unlocking of WhiteBIT Coin, which is being reported as $1.15 billion. This situation offers us a chance to gauge how the market might respond to