VeChain (VET)
Unlock Schedule
VeChain (VET) Token Unlock & Vesting Schedule
The unlock chart above provides a clear visual overview of the VeChain (VET) 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 VET 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
Supply and generation
VET has a fixed total supply of 86,712,634,466 tokens. No new VET will be minted. Holding VET generates VTHO at a base rate documented in the official docs (0.000432 VTHO per VET per day), which users then spend to submit transactions. This arrangement keeps transaction costs steady and plannable, even if VET’s market value changes over time. (docs.vechain.org)
When users spend VTHO for gas, a portion is burned and part is awarded to validators—aligning network usage with VTHO supply. Governance can adjust parameters such as gas price or generation rate through on‑chain voting if needed, making VeChain tokenomics adaptable. The network continues to discuss further optimizations as part of the broader “Renaissance” roadmap proposals. (github.com)
Nodes and governance
Long-time VET holders can participate in governance through the VeVote system. Voting power is represented by eligible node NFTs (Stargate NFTs) and Authority Masternode endorsements. VeVote proposals can cover protocol upgrades or economic parameters, with quorum rules and an auditable on-chain record. This structure shifts decision-making directly to stakeholders over time. (docs.vevote.vechain.org)
What VET is used for
- Carrying value and access across the VeChain blockchain
- Generating VTHO for fees
- Participating in on-chain governance (via node programs and NFTs)
- Serving as a base asset for DeFi, NFT pricing, and ecosystem rewards
Together, these utilities help shape long-run demand for VET and influence VET price alongside adoption and burn dynamics. (docs.vechain.org)
Assumptions
- Public and private sale unlock dates are approximated to late Q3 2017.
Primary sources confirm 2017 token sale but do not publish exact end dates; third-party listings show August–September 2017 windows. We model a public sale cliff on 2017-09-17 and private round on 2017-09-30.
- Team allocation modeled as monthly-linear from 2017-08-01 to 2019-07-31.
Whitepaper specifies 5% released quarterly over two years; financial reports document quarterly distributions (4th by July 2018, 8th by July 2019). We convert to monthly-linear for chart granularity.
- Enterprise investor distribution modeled linearly from 2018-03-01 to 2019-12-31.
Foundation financial reports note ongoing allocations to enterprise investors during 2018–2019 without exact monthly amounts; linear modeling approximates gradual release.
- Foundation treasury allocations (Operations/R&D and Business Case Development) modeled as long-horizon linear unlocks through 2030.
These pools are used progressively at the Foundation’s discretion; no fixed vesting. Linear schedules provide an approximate release profile for visualization and sum to allocation totals.
- Total supply reference uses the whitepaper-defined fixed supply at genesis (86,712,634,466 VET).
This is the minted maximum at mainnet. Subsequent burns (e.g., reported 727,593,289 VET reduction as of Jan 31, 2020) reduce current outstanding supply but do not represent additional release mechanisms; thus they are not modeled as allocations.
- No ongoing VET issuance via PoW/PoS; VET supply is fixed.
VeChainThor uses Proof-of-Authority; ongoing rewards are paid in VTHO, not VET. Therefore, no network issuance allocation is included for VET.
- 1. https://docs.vechain.org/introduction-to-vechain/dual-token-economic-model/vechain-vet
- 2. https://cdn.vechain.com/vechainthor_development_plan_and_whitepaper_en_v1.0.pdf
- 3. https://medium.com/vechain-foundation/vechain-financial-executive-report-vol-7-80c8584c92bd
- 4. https://medium.com/vechain-foundation/vechain-financial-executive-report-vol-8-f9a8ef88b5d9
- 5. https://medium.com/vechain-foundation/vechain-financial-executive-report-vol-5-d7948019d7c1
- 6. https://vechainofficial.medium.com/vechain-financial-executive-report-vol-4-c31417f88ef5
- 7. https://vechaininsider.com/news/vechainthor-mainnet-is-live/
- 8. https://vechainofficial.medium.com/vechain-financial-executive-report-vol-10-c09bced0735
- 9. https://vechainstats.com/token/vet/
- 10. https://cryptoslate.com/coins/vechain/
- 11. https://vechainofficial.medium.com/vechain-financial-executive-report-vol-1-46d307dc6f4
- 12. https://vechainofficial.medium.com/vechain-technical-ama-business-questions-part-1-cbd8dce2de51
- 13. https://docs.vechain.org/introduction-to-vechain/dual-token-economic-model/vethor-vtho