Value plunges 89% since January peak amid investor losses

United States President Donald Trump’s official memecoin is set to face a major market test next week, as $321 million worth of vested tokens are due to be unlocked on 18 April. The release is expected to significantly impact the token’s already volatile price, which has plummeted nearly 90% since its all-time high earlier this year.

Major Token Unlock Scheduled

According to data from Tokenomist, around 40 million Trump tokens will be released in a “cliff unlock,” meaning the entire amount will be made available to holders at once rather than gradually. With the tokens currently trading at approximately $8, the influx represents a $321 million increase in circulating supply.

Such token unlocks are a common mechanism in the crypto industry, aimed at promoting long-term holding by restricting access to tokens for early investors or project teams during the initial phases. However, once these tokens become tradable, they often trigger sharp sell-offs and price drops — a trend that could repeat with Trump’s token.

Sharp Decline from January Highs
The Trump memecoin reached its peak on 19 January, just one day before President Trump’s inauguration, hitting an all-time high (ATH) of $73.43. Since then, the token’s value has fallen drastically to $8, representing an 89% decline.

While the project’s creators reportedly earned over $350 million, everyday investors have not shared in that success. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis estimates that around 813,000 wallets suffered collective losses of roughly $2 billion amid the token’s rapid decline.

Concerns Over Further Price Drop
The upcoming token unlock has raised alarms among investors and analysts, who fear a further decline in price as early holders may choose to liquidate their assets. Historical precedent adds weight to these concerns — in March 2024, for example, a similar event occurred with Arbitrum’s ARB token. Following a $2.32 billion unlock, ARB fell from $1.89 to just $0.29 — an 84% drop.

With Trump’s token unlock being the single largest scheduled for the week of 14–20 April, its potential market impact is considerable. It makes up approximately 61% of the total $519 million in crypto tokens set to be released that week.

Other Notable Unlocks This Week
Alongside Trump’s token, other major projects will also see significant token unlocks. Fasttoken (FTN) will release 20 million tokens worth around $80 million, primarily allocated to its team and founders. Arbitrum will release ARB tokens worth over $27 million, while Starknet will unlock 127 million STRK tokens valued at $16 million.

As investors brace for potential market turbulence, the crypto sector will be closely watching the effects of these unlocks — particularly the Trump memecoin, which has already seen dramatic highs and lows in its short lifespan.