Optimism Unlocks $29.6M in OP Tokens Over Next Year

Optimism, an Ethereum layer-2 scaling project, has confirmed its plan to release $29.6 million worth of OP tokens over the next year. The unlocks are scheduled from May 2026 through April 2027 and will increase the circulating supply of OP by 58.3%.

The OP token unlock schedule is part of Optimism's original distribution plan, first outlined in 2022 when the project launched its governance token. This structured approach aims to gradually increase circulating supply while funding ecosystem development and rewarding early backers.

Approximately 343 million OP tokens will be unlocked, with significant allocations going towards the ecosystem fund and initial contributors. The unlocks are expected to create short-term volatility in OP's price, but Optimism's transparent approach provides context for investors.