Lockup
A fixed period during which tokens can't be sold or moved, common for team and investor allocations.
A lockup freezes tokens for a set window. During it, holders can't sell or transfer—the supply is on paper but off the market.
Lockups show up everywhere. Private investors often face a six-to-twelve-month lockup after a launch; staked tokens may be locked while they secure a network.
The expiry matters. When a lockup ends, previously frozen tokens become sellable, and a wave of supply can pressure the price. Traders mark these dates the way they watch vesting unlocks.
Related terms
A schedule that releases allocated tokens gradually over time, keeping founders and investors from selling everything at once.
TokenomicsThe economic design of a token — its supply, distribution, and incentives — that shapes whether it can hold value.
StakingLocking up tokens to help secure a proof-of-stake network and earn rewards, similar to interest on a deposit.
LiquidityHow easily an asset can be bought or sold near its current price without moving that price much.