A time-based release plan that gradually unlocks tokens allocated to team members, investors, or advisors after a cliff period.
Vesting aligns long-term incentives: a 4-year vest with a 1-year cliff means no tokens are released in year 1, then 25% unlocks at the end of year 1, with the remainder releasing monthly over years 2–4. When a large vesting event approaches, it can suppress token price as recipients sell. Public DePIN projects must disclose their vesting schedule in tokenomics documentation.