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Overview

Understanding who gets a project’s tokens (the allocation) is only half the story. The how, i.e., the specific method by which those tokens are distributed, is just as critical for assessing emissions and long-term incentives. To this end, Tokenomist introduces Release Mechanisms, a standardized classification system for token distribution methods. This allows you to analyze not just which stakeholders get tokens, but also the mechanics of how those tokens are released.

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Methodology

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Definitions

Our system categorizes all distribution methods into one of the following eight standard mechanisms:

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Examples

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Example #1: Liquidity Mining Program

  • Scenario: A new DeFi protocol allocates tokens to a “Liquidity Mining Program,” with tokens distributed through user participation in farming pools.
  • Analysis: Liquidity mining is a type of yield farming with the underlying purpose of rewarding users for providing capital and engaging with the protocol.
  • Our Categorization: Liquidity Mining Program is classified under Yield Farming.

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Example #2: Early Backers & Team

  • Scenario: A new Layer 1 blockchain lists allocations for “Early Backers & Team,” with tokens locked and gradually released over time.
  • Analysis: Early backer and team allocations typically involve vesting schedules or time-locks to align long-term incentives and prevent large, immediate sell-offs. While project documents may use varying labels, the mechanism is a standard vesting distribution.
  • Our Categorization: Early Backers & Team is classified with a Vesting & Time-Locked Distribution release mechanism.

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Access Features

Release Mechanisms are used across the following Tokenomist features:
  • Tokenomics Pane — Toggle the Release Mechanism view on any token page to see how tokens are distributed across different mechanism types.
  • Advanced Filters (Presets) — Filter upcoming unlock events by specific release mechanisms (cliff, linear, etc.) in the Token Unlock Screener.