Early-stage crypto investors face 50% average loss on locked positions

1 month ago

Locked token holders person experienced an mean drawdown of astir 50% for their locked positions compared to over-the-counter (OTC) valuations successful May 2024.

According to data published by STIX laminitis Taran Sabharwal connected April 22, holders could person exited their positions astatine treble the existent spot prices the erstwhile year.

Sabharwal shared information comparing afloat diluted valuation (FDV) estimates from May 2024 against existent FDVs arsenic of April 2025 for large tokens, including JITO, BERA, ZRO, WLD, TIA, IO, W, ZK, EIGEN, SCR, and BLAST.

Widespread devaluations crossed apical tokens

Among the projects tracked, astir each showed sizeable valuation declines. SCR and BLAST recorded the largest year-over-year drawdowns astatine -85% and -88%, respectively.

EIGEN followed intimately with a -75% drop. Other tokens, specified arsenic ZK (-64%), W (-50%), IO (-48%), and TIA (-44%), besides posted important declines comparative to their locked OTC valuations from the erstwhile year.

Only JITO posted an increase, with a +75% summation comparative to past year’s valuations, lasting retired arsenic an objection successful an different broadly antagonistic situation for locked token holders.

According to Sabharwal, the disparity betwixt OTC valuations and existent spot prices highlights the risks of investing successful illiquid, locked positions during early-stage token rounds. 

While these aboriginal investments are typically structured with the anticipation of semipermanent upside, marketplace volatility and project-specific factors implicit the past 12 months person led to important underperformance comparative to archetypal valuations.

In the aforesaid period, the 22 sectors successful the crypto market, successful summation to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), experienced an mean correction of 40.7%, based connected Artemis data. This is astir 20% amended than the show of locked tokens. 

Implications for token markets and aboriginal investors

The information suggests that galore early-stage token investors who committed to locked positions whitethorn person missed amended exit opportunities successful the secondary marketplace passim 2024. 

Locked tokens typically travel with vesting schedules oregon transportation restrictions, which forestall contiguous liquidity and exposure holders to marketplace shifts during the lock-up period.

The information shared by Sabharwal besides reflects broader marketplace conditions affecting afloat diluted valuations crossed the crypto sector. Newer projects look intensified unit successful secondary markets compared to their archetypal fundraising rounds.

The station Early-stage crypto investors look 50% mean nonaccomplishment connected locked positions appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.

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