Vesting Cliff
A frozen interval at the start of a vesting schedule during which no tokens unlock. Once the cliff ends, either a chunk unlocks at once or a linear daily/monthly unlock begins.
Aliases: cliff period, cliff vesting
A vesting cliff is a frozen window at the start of a vesting schedule. Until the cliff ends the holder receives zero tokens from the schedule. Past the cliff, either a sizeable chunk unlocks at once or a linear vesting curve begins.
Typical schedule
| Component | Value |
|---|---|
| TGE | 0–10% unlock at launch |
| Cliff | 6–12 months frozen |
| Linear vesting | remaining tokens release at 1/24 per month after the cliff |
Why the cliff exists
- Cuts sell pressure right after launch. Team / investors / advisors cannot dump in week one — they have no liquid tokens yet.
- Signals long horizon. A team committed to a two-year cliff is focused on product, not on a quick cash-out.
- Protects public-sale buyers from a sudden supply surge.
Context on TON
Most TON jetton projects publish a vesting table:
- Notcoin used strict cliff and vesting terms for team and investors.
- DOGS and other meme tokens often skip the cliff — which explains their post-TGE volatility.
- DeFi protocols (EVAA, Tonco) — standard 6–12 month cliffs plus 18–36 month linear vesting.
What to check
- Cliff length. Insiders with cliffs under 6 months are a weak signal.
- Size of the post-cliff unlock. A 50%+ unlock means a supply shock is incoming.
- Transparency. Is the vesting contract public? Can you verify the addresses?