Hyperliquid, the decentralized derivatives platform, has confirmed a structured token unlock schedule for its team-held HYPE tokens. Co-founder Iliensinc announced via Discord that 1.2 million HYPE tokens from Hyperliquid Labs will be unstaked on December 28, 2025, and distributed to team members on January 6, 2026.
The announcement provides clarity on the project's tokenomics, stating that future team distributions, if any, will occur on the 6th of each month. This creates a predictable schedule for token releases, moving away from potential surprise unlocks that could create market volatility.
Core contributors currently hold 23.8% of the total 1 billion HYPE supply. These tokens are governed by a one-year cliff and linear vesting plan that extends through 2027. This three-year vesting framework is designed to align the team's interests with the long-term success of the platform.
Despite concerns from on-chain trackers about a potential 9.92 million token release on December 29, the team emphasized that distributions would be controlled and predictable, aiming to mitigate fears of sudden sell-offs. HYPE is traded on multiple venues including Hyperliquid Spot, LBank, Bitget, Gate, KuCoin, and OKX, primarily against USDT and USDC.
At the time of the announcement, HYPE was trading around $25.38, down 0.65% in 24 hours, with a market capitalization of $8.6 billion. The token remains approximately 57% below its all-time high of $59.39 reached on September 18, 2025.
Community reaction has been mixed. Some traders welcomed the transparency, while others expressed skepticism, pointing to prior high-volume sales by early investors. The key variable will be whether team members hold or sell their unlocked HYPE, with early January trading potentially setting the tone for 2026 market sentiment.
