On October 24, Kain.mega, the creator of the cross-chain DeFi platform Infinex, revealed that the
team's 20% token share
— representing a substantial fraction of the total token supply — will be locked again for a year following the token generation event (TGE), and then released gradually over the next 12 months. This move, described as a "long-term promise to the community," is designed to discourage early liquidity withdrawals and ensure that the team's interests are closely tied to achieving product-market fit. "We feel it would be unfair for the team to access token liquidity before reaching product-market fit," Kain.mega shared on social media, highlighting the team's collective approach to both governance and development.
This action reflects a broader movement among DeFi projects to emphasize transparency in tokenomics and stronger community alignment. While Infinex is opting for a phased token release, other platforms are taking different routes. For example,
a document from Hyperliquid Strategies
indicates the company has recently sought to raise $1 billion to grow its HYPE token reserves, aiming to become the top corporate holder of the token. At the same time, decentralized perpetual trading platforms such as Hyperliquid and Lighter have collectively processed over $1 trillion in trading volume this October, with Hyperliquid alone contributing $317.6 billion, as reported by
Yahoo Finance
. These examples illustrate the varied approaches to managing token liquidity and shaping market sentiment.
Experts believe that Infinex's decision to relock tokens could enhance investor trust by limiting immediate selling opportunities. "Locking up team tokens again sends a positive signal," one analyst commented, noting that it "shows commitment to long-term growth." In contrast, Hyperliquid's HYPE token has experienced mixed feedback, with recent monthly unlocks of 10 million tokens and buyback activities leading to price swings. Nevertheless, after the Hyperliquid Strategies announcement, HYPE's value jumped 8% to $38.26. The DeFi sector is also witnessing new developments, such as Screx's AI-driven platform designed to consolidate fragmented liquidity, and the x402 Protocol's PING token, which soared 802% in value within 24 hours, according to
a post by Lookonchain
.
Infinex's approach is in line with increasing regulatory and market expectations for responsible token distribution. As the DeFi industry evolves, more projects are implementing safeguards like lock-ups and vesting periods to deter rapid token sell-offs. For instance, Heilongjiang Tianyouwei Electronics Co. Ltd. recently prolonged its share lock-up until October 2025, following a similar path to Infinex, as mentioned in a
MarketScreener announcement
. These patterns point to a shift toward more robust, institution-level governance in DeFi, where openness and long-term stability are prioritized over speculative trading.