Optimism expects approximately 343 million OP tokens to enter circulation over the next twelve months through its scheduled vesting and emission program, underscoring the continuing balance between ecosystem growth incentives and token dilution. According to the project’s published token emission schedule, the additional 343 million OP represents roughly 8% of the token’s maximum supply and will be released gradually through monthly vesting events rather than a single large unlock. The emissions include allocations for ecosystem funding, core contributors, investors and governance programs established when the OP token was launched.
The projected increase in circulating supply comes as Optimism undergoes a broader evolution of its tokenomics. Earlier this year, the Optimism Foundation proposed and governance approved a program directing 50% of Superchain revenue toward monthly OP token buybacks, beginning in February 2026. Tokens repurchased through the program are returned to the treasury and may ultimately be burned or distributed through future protocol mechanisms, partially offsetting the impact of ongoing emissions. The combination of continued vesting and systematic buybacks reflects Optimism’s attempt to maintain incentives for ecosystem growth while strengthening long-term alignment between the OP token and the expanding Superchain network.
Scheduled Emissions Continue Despite Buybacks
Unlike many projects that rely on sporadic cliff unlocks, Optimism distributes new tokens through a predictable vesting schedule. The gradual release of approximately 343 million OP over the coming year is intended to fund ecosystem development, reward contributors and honor long-term vesting commitments made to investors and core team members at launch.
Although new supply can create selling pressure, governance has increasingly focused on measures designed to absorb part of that issuance. Under the buyback proposal, half of the revenue generated by the Superchain—including chains such as Base, Unichain, World Chain and Ink—is used each month to purchase OP on the open market. The Foundation has argued that linking token demand directly to Superchain activity creates a more sustainable economic model, allowing OP holders to benefit from growth across the broader Layer-2 ecosystem rather than relying solely on governance utility.
Investors Closely Watch Supply Dynamics
Token unlock schedules remain one of the most closely monitored metrics in digital asset markets because increases in circulating supply can influence price performance if demand fails to keep pace. Historically, OP has experienced periods of heightened volatility around scheduled unlocks, although markets often price in expected emissions well before tokens become transferable.
Supporters of the current model argue that continued ecosystem funding remains essential as Optimism competes with other Ethereum Layer-2 networks for developers, users and enterprise partners. The Superchain has expanded rapidly over the past year, with major exchanges, financial institutions and consumer applications adopting the OP Stack as their preferred scaling infrastructure. Critics, however, continue to express concern that ongoing emissions could weigh on token performance unless network revenue and buybacks accelerate sufficiently to offset dilution.
For investors, the next twelve months will therefore be shaped by two opposing forces: the release of 343 million OP into circulation and the Foundation’s commitment to systematic buybacks funded by Superchain revenue. Whether those buybacks prove large enough to counterbalance scheduled emissions will depend on the continued growth of the Superchain ecosystem and the revenue it generates. As Optimism increasingly positions OP as the economic layer underpinning its expanding network of rollups, the interaction between token issuance and buyback demand is likely to become one of the project’s most closely watched metrics.