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Immutable delays the vesting of 125 million IMX tokens to bolster long-term stability, signaling a focused approach to sustainable growth in the blockchain and gaming sectors.
Immutable, a leading layer-2 NFT scaling solution on Ethereum, has announced it is postponing vesting of 125 million IMX tokens, worth an estimated $67 million at current prices. Initially designed as developer rewards, the vesting of these tokens will now begin in July 2024. Robbie Ferguson, co-founder of Immutable, explained the move as part of the company's focus on long-term stability.
"At a minimum, when we finally do decide to let these tokens unlock – they will be done on a linear monthly vesting schedule over time, instead of a cliff," he said, highlighting Immutable's intention to avoid a market-flooding one-off event.
The company currently supports over 200 fully funded games and maintains a four-year financial runway for its 270-strong team. Of its 2 billion tokens, 52% are designated for projects that further its ecosystem and drive innovation.
1/ We're here for the long run.
— Robbie Ferguson 🅧 | Immutable (@0xferg) October 17, 2023
Last year, we committed to re-locking 125M $IMX of @Immutable’s Project Dev allocation for another 1 year. A few weeks from now, these tokens are scheduled to unlock.
We’re proud to once again re-lock this allocation until July 2024 at a minimum.
Immutable has not been modest about its ambitions. The company aims to roll out its zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM) and is also exploring cross-rollup liquidity. Beyond these technological milestones, Ferguson stressed the value of blockchain gaming in the company’s future. He observed, "The games funded 2 years ago are going live over the next 12 months," indicating a firm belief that the intersection of gaming and blockchain could fuel the broad adoption of Web3 technologies.
A recap of Immutable's financial history is crucial for appreciating this latest development. The company had a landmark moment in March 2022 when it raised an impressive $200 million in a Series C funding round. Leading the round was Temasek, the state-owned investment giant from Singapore, with significant contributions from other industry players like Animoca Brands, Tencent, Arrington Capital, and Princeville Capital. The funds were allocated for enhancing the Immutable layer-2 scaling solution and to expand the Immutable Gaming Studio, in line with the company’s focus on blockchain gaming.
The decision to defer token vesting represents more than a short-term financial tactic; it exemplifies Immutable's commitment to sustained growth and stability. In a sector known for its volatile nature and constant evolution, strategic choices like this may well set the course for the company’s future. With a sturdy foundation, an ambitious action plan, and a clear vision, Immutable is set to make significant strides in both the blockchain and gaming arenas.
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