Arbitrum price forecast as investors ponder $19M ARB unlock

• Arbitrum price is hovering near $0.20 amid a 3% dip in the past 24 hours.
• The altcoin could dip further as investors await an upcoming $19 million ARB unlock.
• Overall market sentiment and network milestones will help bulls.

Arbitrum’s ARB token has returned to the $0.20 level, as the Ethereum-based layer-2 network prepares for another sizeable token unlock that will add to the circulating supply.

ARB was trading about 3% lower over the past 24 hours, while sentiment across the broader cryptocurrency market remained mixed amid continued volatility.

Supply-related concerns, alongside wider market conditions, are expected to influence Arbitrum’s near-term price performance.

Arbitrum faces $19 million token unlock this week

Arbitrum is set to undergo a major cliff unlock on January 16, 2026.

Details show the L2 is poised for the release of 96 million ARB tokens worth about $19.6 million.

This unlock, representing about 1.68% of the adjusted circulating supply, is directed primarily to the Arbitrum DAO Treasury.

It’s part of Arbitrum’s structured vesting schedule, which allocates tokens across categories including the DAO Treasury, team, investors, and ecosystem participants.

According to data from Tokenomist, the ARB unlock occurs amid a busy week for token releases across the crypto space.

Some of the large cliff unlocks scheduled for January 12 to January 19 include ONDO with over $770 million and TRUMP with over $299 million.

UPCOMING TOKEN UNLOCKS 🚨

One-time large unlocks (>$5M):$ONDO, $CONX, $ARB, $DBR, $CHEEL, $STRK, $SEI, $ZK

Linear daily unlocks (>$1M/day):$RAIN, $SOL, $TRUMP, $WLD, $RIVER, $DOGE, $AVAX, $ASTER, $TAO

Total unlock value: >$1.69B

Unlocks don’t guarantee dumps but they do… pic.twitter.com/t4Ojf9TEZl

— Wise Advice (@wiseadvicesumit) January 12, 2026

Notably, these supply injections can introduce selling pressure if recipients liquidate holdings, particularly in a cautious market environment.

While the impact may not be so devastating, historical patterns show that such events often trigger short-term volatility.

ARB price outlook

ARB has declined nearly 5% in the past week.

Bulls pushed to highs near $0.23 earlier in the week, but have since pared gains as prices fall below $0.21.

Currently, buyers are regrouping near $0.20 as the impending unlock appears to shape immediate market action.

Risk-off behaviour that has pushed Bitcoin and Ethereum off recent highs, and tokens like XRP to key support, could impact the ARB price too.

“US-hours BTC selling, while less concentrated than in prior weeks, remains a persistent feature, and uncertainty around the remaining overhang of supply continues to cap upside. Combined with rising macro volatility, the relative appeal of crypto looks increasingly challenged, particularly when set against the resilience of precious metals and equities,” QCP analysts said in a note.

As per the analysts, investor focus will be on key events such as the US CPI data release and the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling.

Short-term, Arbitrum price could fall to support in the $0.19-$0.17 region.

On the upside, ARB could rally to $0.25 and then $0.30 with long-term targets of $0.60 and $0.80.

Arbitrum’s key milestones, including Orbit for Layer-3 chains, gaming initiatives and institutional integrations like the Robinhood partnership, are crucial to this outlook.