Token Dilution
Token dilution occurs when a protocol increases the circulating supply of its native token, thereby reducing the proportional ownership and value of existing holdings. This is a common consequence of liquidity mining and other inflationary reward programs.
While dilution is intended to attract new users and liquidity, it can harm long-term token holders if the network growth does not outpace the supply increase. Governance models must carefully manage issuance schedules to balance the need for incentives with the preservation of token value.
Excessive dilution can lead to sell pressure as early participants exit their positions. It is a central tension in the economic design of many crypto-native projects.
Understanding the emission schedule is fundamental for evaluating tokenomics.