Unlocks Without Drama: a communications playbook that keeps windows orderly

Unlocks Without Drama: a communications playbook that keeps windows orderly

Unlocks do not have to turn into volatility theater; clear calendars, visible liquidity, and disciplined insider behavior make the window feel like scheduled maintenance. Ship three assets now:

• A plain-English calendar
• A holder education pack
• Short before/after liquidity notes that prove depth was ready when supply arrived

Why communications change the outcome

Price pressure around unlocks is real and starts weeks in advance. Negative pressure often begins 30 days before as traders position early. You cannot message away supply and demand; you can remove surprise, reduce rumor, and make depth visible before the window opens.

Publish a plain-English unlock calendar

Pin one page anyone can read in 30 seconds; keep it identical everywhere:

• Dates, amounts, and beneficiary groups for the next two quarters
• “Why now” tied to utility, security, or partner go-lives—not headlines
• Wallet links receiving or distributing tokens if relevant
• The operating script: maker inventory checks, AMM maintenance, partner campaigns, reporting cadence

Under MiCA, treat the calendar as part of your disclosure posture (as of September 19, 2025).

Ship holder education that prevents rumor

Replace mystery with clear explanations:

• How unlocks work here; who unlocks; why; the guardrails in place
• Treasury policy at a glance: purpose, protection, movement, approvers and limits
• Liquidity plan at a glance: where depth lives; AMM ranges; what “good” spread/slippage look like
• Insider rules: blackouts, conflict policy, handling of MNPI

Make depth visible before and after

State your metrics, then show them:

• Depth at 1–2 % from mid: resting bids and asks inside the band
• Bid-ask spread (bps): immediate cost to trade
• Slippage for a standard notional: the execution gap users feel

Publish:

• A short before note 2–3 days ahead
• An after note reconciling supply, realized depth/spread by venue, and wallet links

Set an orderly sale plan for investors

Reduce stress with lock-up then leak-out covenants:

• Lock-up, then a leak-out cap (e.g., ≤10 % of 30-day ADV/day)
• Execute through named market maker, OTC desk, or RFQ venue using TWAP/VWAP algos
• Pre-clearance/blackout around material news
• Wallet transparency with labeled public sale wallets
• No shorting or hedging that defeats intent
• Remedies: injunctive relief, claw-backs, or loss of allocation

Include terms in the SAFT, token subscription, or side letter, and consider on-chain vesting or whitelists where possible.

Legal reality, briefly

Provisions are enforceable if drafted well. Avoid anything resembling manipulation. Under MiCA, keep purpose and metrics public and policy-driven (as of September 19, 2025).

Align the script with venues and makers

• Agree quoting targets and incident rules with makers in advance
• Share the calendar with exchanges; confirm listing-health checks
• Publish AMM range bands and widen/pause rules for volatility
• Hold a short call the week before the window for coordination

A paste-ready community FAQ

Will price fall? Unlocks add supply and can create pressure. We align releases to usage milestones and prepare depth on key venues with before/after notes.
Can insiders sell? They follow lock-up and leak-out rules, use designated channels, and observe blackouts. Wallets are labeled and activity summarized quarterly.
Why this schedule? It ties to adoption signposts and partner readiness, not dates alone.
Where can I verify? Wallet links, the depth dashboard, and monthly supply notes are pinned and updated.

Governance and disclosure guardrails

• Announce dates/amounts on a fixed cadence everywhere holders rely on info
• Avoid selective disclosure that creates asymmetry
• If changes occur, publish with equal prominence and explain the trigger

A simple run-of-show

• T-21 to 14 days: publish/refresh calendar; pre-brief partners
• T-7 days: confirm maker inventory and AMM ranges; pin FAQ; share wallets
• T-2–3 days: publish before-window depth note
• Window day: post open and close updates
• T+1–2 days: publish after-window reconciliation
• Monthly: roll into a short liquidity & supply note

One sprint; clear outcomes

In two–four weeks, ship:

• Plain-English calendar with wallet links, adoption signposts, and orderly-sale summary
• Holder education pack with FAQ, treasury policy at a glance, and venue-aligned liquidity plan
• Before/after depth-note template for depth, spread, and slippage

How Alvren can help

We go beyond strategy with tailored solutions and hands-on execution. From strategy to execution, we help companies design, implement, scale, and protect initiatives. We coordinate in-house and external specialists, closing the gap between vision and execution.

Next steps

• Book a 30-minute discovery call
• Send your calendar draft and exchange list
• Receive a one-page scope and clear go/no-go choice within two business days

Sources

Keyrock analysis of 16,000 + unlocks • ESMA MiCA guidelines • Binance listing guidance • Coinbase liquidity program • Kaiko definitions • Public-company orderly-sale analogs