Nervos Network (CKB)
Unlock Schedule
Nervos Network (CKB) Token Unlock & Vesting Schedule
The unlock chart above provides a clear visual overview of the Nervos Network (CKB) token release schedule, showing when and how tokens enter circulation across investor, team, treasury, and community allocations. Understanding these tokenomics dynamics is critical for evaluating potential supply pressure, inflation impact, and market liquidity over time — key factors that can influence CKB price performance.
Each color segment in the chart corresponds to a specific allocation group described in the Allocations section below. Underlying assumptions and data models used to reconstruct this schedule are explained in detail under Assumptions, while broader utility insights and token use cases are covered in Tokenomics & Utility.
Tokenomics & Utility
CKB is both the fee token and the unit of storage on Layer 1. Holding 1 CKB entitles you to store 1 byte of data on the base chain. When your app occupies space, the CKB that represents that capacity is effectively locked; when you delete the data, the capacity unlocks and can be used again. This simple tie between the token and scarce state keeps growth in check and encourages efficient use of on‑chain storage. (docs.nervos.org)
Nervos uses a two‑part issuance model:
Primary (base) issuance: a finite, hard‑capped 33.6 billion CKB distributed as block rewards, halving about every four years until it ends—similar to Bitcoin. The first halving occurred in November 2023. Some official materials also note that while 33.6 billion were launched at genesis, 8.4 billion were burned soon afterward. (nervos.org)
Secondary issuance: a fixed 1.344 billion CKB per year that continues indefinitely. Rather than paying recurring “rent” out of pocket, users who consume state pay via targeted inflation. Those not using on‑chain space can lock CKB in the NervosDAO to earn an offsetting share of the secondary issuance. This design keeps miners compensated for preserving data and incentivizes clearing unused state. Over time, the system can reach an equilibrium where secondary issuance is effectively neutral for long‑term depositors. (docs.nervos.org)
In plain terms, the token serves three main purposes on CKB: pay transaction and computation fees, represent and reserve storage capacity on Layer 1, and align long‑term security incentives through the NervosDAO.
Assumptions
- Supply is uncapped due to perpetual Secondary Issuance.
Protocol specifies a fixed 1.344B CKB/year secondary issuance with no cap.
- Secondary Issuance modeled through 2103 only.
For charting, we align the modeling horizon with the base issuance period (~84 years from 2019-11-16). Emissions continue beyond 2103.
- Halving dates after 2023-11-19 are estimated to fall on ~4-year intervals.
Actual halving occurs at epoch boundaries (every 8,760 epochs) and can shift by days; future dates are approximate.
- Genesis allocation vesting is modeled as monthly linear per official durations.
Official posts specify durations (2, 3, or 4 years) and initial circulating portions; exact monthly cliffs beyond TGE are not enumerated on-chain.
- Excluded the 25% Genesis burn from allocations.
Burned tokens never enter circulation and are not a release mechanism.
- Proposal/Commit rewards are not included as supply emissions.
They are sourced from transaction fees, not new token issuance.
- Base issuance totals reflect halving periods through ~2103; very small rounding effects are negligible.
Protocol describes a 33.6B cap for base issuance; modeling uses discrete halving-era totals through cessation. Any residual theoretical difference is immaterial for charting.
- Secondary issuance split (miners vs DAO vs treasury/burn) is dynamic.
It varies with state occupancy and DAO deposits; at times a large share is burned until treasury activation. We model gross issuance only.
- 1. https://docs.nervos.org/docs/mining/halving
- 2. https://docs.nervos.org/docs/mining/rewards
- 3. https://docs.nervos.org/docs/tech-explanation/economics
- 4. https://medium.com/nervosnetwork/ready-for-liftoff-token-sale-summary-and-mainnet-lina-launch-6bedad7e4bea
- 5. https://medium.com/@m.quinn/a-detailed-description-of-nervos-ckb-supply-and-issuance-1d55c4b101f9
- 6. https://medium.com/nervosnetwork/nervos-ckbyte-distribution-and-why-we-are-burning-25-in-the-genesis-block-9a7ddf7f6779
- 7. https://talk.nervos.org/t/nervos-ckbyte-distribution-and-why-we-are-burning-25-in-the-genesis-block/3503
- 8. https://www.nervos.org/knowledge-base/tokenomics_of_nervos_network
- 9. https://www.nervos.org/knowledge-base/understanding_nervos_ckb_issuance_model
Allocations
Description
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Nervos Network is a blockchain platform that aims to create a universal internet-like public network for decentralized applications. Nervos Network uses a layered architecture that separates the base layer for security and decentralization from the application layer for scalability and interoperability.
| Sector: | Layer 1 |
| Blockchain: | Bitcoin |