SUI is back in the spotlight: the global token unlock schedule for August dropped sharply compared to the previous month, yet SUI leads with the largest unlock value. This makes SUI the main focus of discussions around price volatility, liquidity, and price discovery.
SUI leads August unlock: $167.62 million on August 1
The total value of token unlocks in August 2025 fell to around $3 billion, or down 52% from $6.3 billion in July. Even so, SUI was at the top with an unlock worth $167.62 million on August 1, drawing strong market attention.
SUI supply context
Only about 34.5% of the total SUI supply has been unlocked so far. This means that each unlock significantly increases the circulating supply and can affect short-term market dynamics. That is why traders always track the SUI unlock schedule to anticipate selling pressure or trading opportunities.
The August landscape and its impact on SUI holders
Besides SUI, August also saw major unlocks such as: Fetch.ai ($91.6M on August 18), Aptos ($51.5M), Avalanche ($40.35M), and Arbitrum ($39.24M). While the total unlock value this month dropped compared to July, large-scale projects like SUI remain in the spotlight due to the size of their token releases.
SUI tokenomics & release schedule
SUI has a maximum supply of 10 billion tokens. When the mainnet launched in May 2023, around 5% was already circulating. The unlock plan spans 7 years, managed by the Sui Foundation. This means SUI token unlocks will continue to appear monthly until 2030.
SUI price in August
By mid-August 2025, SUI was trading in the $3.5 – $3.8 range, with daily volumes in the hundreds of millions of USD. Charts showed up-and-down movements, with clear support and resistance levels forming after the early-month unlock.
What the August 1 unlock meant for traders
- Liquidity & depth: On unlock days, order books often become more volatile, with spreads widening. With a high percentage of tokens still locked, new supply can pressure prices if early holders sell.
- News effect: Positive ecosystem updates can speed up absorption of new supply. Without catalysts, however, prices tend to face downward pressure first.
- Reduced global pressure: The overall 52% drop in August’s unlock value compared to July may ease selling pressure, giving SUI better stability.
SUI on Gate: How users can participate
SUI/USDT is available on major exchanges, including Gate, giving opportunities for both long-term investors and short-term traders. Gate users can use the spot market for accumulation or derivatives for hedging and speculation.
Tip from Gate: Use Gate’s price alert and market overview tools to track SUI price, funding rates, and order book depth around unlock dates—these are often the times when trading costs fluctuate most.
Unlocks and their link to fundamentals
Beyond the schedule, SUI continues to see ecosystem progress: growing developer adoption, gaming projects, and network infrastructure updates. Unlocks are mechanical, but adoption and utility are the main factors that determine how quickly new supply gets absorbed by the market.
Risks for SUI in Q3–Q4
- Dense schedule: Consecutive months with large unlocks can weigh on rallies.
- Fragmented liquidity: Trading split between CEX and DEX can cause price gaps during quiet hours.
- FDV vs circulating market cap: With many tokens still locked, FDV is important for long-term investors, while short-term traders focus on the actual circulating supply.
- Event-driven volatility: Big ecosystem news or new listings can move prices far beyond what the unlock schedule would suggest.
Strategy for Gate users
- Before unlock: Mark key dates, track unlock amounts, and prepare risk management strategies.
- On unlock day: Use limit orders to reduce slippage, monitor order book imbalances and funding rates.
- After unlock: If supply is absorbed quickly, a relief trend may follow; if not, it’s better to wait for market structure to stabilize.
Quick facts about SUI in August
- Largest unlock: $167.62M (August 1, 2025)
- Total August unlocks: ~$3B (down 52% from July)
- Average trading price (August 2025): $3.5 – $3.8
- Maximum supply: 10 billion tokens, released over 7 years
- Listed on Gate: SUI/USDT pair available, supporting spot and derivatives
Conclusion
Even though August’s total unlock value dropped sharply, SUI still stood out with the largest unlock. With only about one-third of its supply unlocked so far, each future unlock will continue to have a significant impact on price action. For Gate users, treat these as event trades: monitor schedules, track liquidity, and always weigh ecosystem progress when making decisions.
