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Token Float

Token float is the ratio of circulating (freely tradeable) supply to total or max supply. A low float means a small portion of tokens is available for trading, making the price more sensitive to large buy or sell orders — and more vulnerable to sharp moves when locked tokens unlock.
TradFi parallel — Like a stock's free float percentage — the proportion of shares available for public trading vs. total shares outstanding, which determines how sensitive the stock price is to large trades.

Key Takeaways

  • 01
    Float = circulating supply / total supply — it measures what proportion of tokens is available for trading
  • 02
    Low-float tokens are more volatile because each trade represents a larger share of available supply
  • 03
    TGE float percentages vary widely: some tokens launch with under 5% float, others above 50%
  • 04
    Each unlock event increases the float — cliff unlocks can double or triple the effective float overnight
  • 05
    Float trajectory (how fast float increases over time) matters more than the current snapshot for forward-looking analysis
  • 06
    Tokenomist displays Released % in the Token Unlocks table as a measure of how much supply has entered circulation relative to max supply

How It Works

Token float measures how much of a token's total supply is actively available in the market. A token with 10% float has 90% of its supply locked in vesting contracts, staking, or other restricted allocations. This creates a thin market where the available supply for trading is a fraction of the total allocation, and the pricing dynamics differ markedly from a fully circulated token. Low-float tokens exhibit amplified price sensitivity in both directions. On the upside, limited sell-side supply means moderate buying pressure can drive disproportionate price increases — this is why many tokens appreciate sharply after TGE when demand meets constrained supply. On the downside, each unlock event represents a larger proportional increase to the tradeable supply. A cliff unlock that adds 5% to total supply might add 50% to the float of a token with only 10% circulating, creating severe supply shock potential. Float analysis is most valuable when combined with unlock schedule data. A token's current float tells you today's liquidity condition, but the trajectory matters more — a 15% float token with all remaining supply unlocking in the next 6 months faces a different risk profile than a 15% float token whose remaining supply vests over 4 years. Tokenomist shows the Released % metric in the Token Unlocks table, representing released supply as a percentage of max supply, which serves as a practical float indicator across the tracked token universe.

Real World Examples

Worldcoin Ultra-Low Initial Float
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Worldcoin launched with an extremely low percentage of total supply in circulation. This constrained float contributed to high initial valuations relative to FDV, but also meant each subsequent unlock would add a significant proportion to the tradeable supply.
Bitcoin Near-Full Float
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With over 93% of its 21 million supply already mined, Bitcoin represents a near-full-float asset. The remaining mining emissions add less than 1% annually to circulating supply, making Bitcoin one of the least float-sensitive major crypto assets.
Sui Float Expansion Post-Cliff
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Sui's float expanded significantly after its investor and team cliff periods expired. The transition from a low-float to moderate-float token changed its trading dynamics — price became less reactive to individual large orders as available supply deepened.
Celestia Low-Float, High-FDV Launch
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Celestia launched with a low circulating supply relative to its total allocation, creating the low-float, high-FDV profile that became a defining theme in 2023-2024 tokenomics analysis. The constrained float supported early price discovery but created a significant overhang of locked supply.
Starknet Gradual Float Increase
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Starknet's vesting schedule was designed for a gradual float increase, avoiding the sudden supply shocks of single large cliff events. This approach spread the float expansion over a longer period, giving the market more time to absorb new supply.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the current float for a token?
On Tokenomist's Token Unlocks Dashboard, the Released % column shows each token's released supply as a percentage of max supply. This metric functions as a float indicator — lower percentages mean less supply is circulating. You can sort the table by this column to quickly identify the lowest and highest float tokens in the tracked universe.
Why are low-float tokens more volatile?
When only a small portion of total supply is tradeable, each buy or sell order moves the price more because it represents a larger fraction of available liquidity. A $10M sell order against a $50M float token moves the market far more than the same order against a $500M float token. Use Tokenomist's Emission Screener to filter for tokens by released percentage and identify those with the thinnest floats.
How does float change over time?
Float increases as tokens unlock from vesting contracts, as staking rewards enter circulation, and as ecosystem allocations are distributed. The rate of float expansion depends on the vesting schedule structure. On Tokenomist's Token Detail pages, the unlock timeline chart shows projected future unlocks, allowing you to model how the float will evolve over months and years.
What is the difference between float and circulating supply?
Circulating supply is the absolute number of tokens available for trading. Float is that number expressed as a ratio of total or max supply. Two tokens can have the same circulating supply in dollar terms but very different floats if their total supplies differ. Tokenomist tracks both metrics — absolute released supply and Released % — on each token's detail page and in the Token Unlocks Dashboard.
Should I avoid investing in low-float tokens?
Low float is not inherently good or bad — it creates both opportunity and risk. Low-float tokens can appreciate rapidly with modest demand but face severe dilution as supply unlocks. The key is understanding the unlock timeline. Use Tokenomist to check when major cliff events occur, how much supply they release relative to current float, and whether the project's adoption trajectory can absorb the new supply.

Related Terms

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Supply-side analysis for educational purposes. Not financial advice. Verify assumption and precision labels on the relevant token page.
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