Crypto events in May are shaping up to deliver one of the most active months of 2025 for the blockchain space. From protocol upgrades and token unlocks to high-profile global conferences, the industry is witnessing pivotal developments across multiple ecosystems.
Here’s a breakdown of the most important dates and events shaping crypto markets in May 2025.
Protocol Upgrades: THORChain, Kaspa, IOTA, Ethereum
May 5 – THORChain (RUNE) v3.5.0 Upgrade
The update introduces THORChain Yield (TCY) to boost user returns, alongside support for RUJI contracts, enhanced network resilience, and better developer flexibility. THORChain remains a leader in native cross-chain swaps without wrapped assets.
May 5 – Kaspa (KAS) Crescendo Hardfork
This major update increases block generation from 1 to 10 per second, dramatically improving TPS and network security. Built on GHOSTDAG and blockDAG, Kaspa is now one of the fastest PoW chains.
May 5 – IOTA Rebased Launch
The Rebased architecture moves IOTA to Delegated Proof-of-Stake, supports MoveVM-based smart contracts, and boosts throughput to 50,000 TPS. This marks IOTA’s biggest evolution since inception.
May 7 – Ethereum (ETH) Pectra Upgrade
After delays caused by issues on Holesky and Sepolia, the Pectra upgrade goes live on mainnet. Extensive testing on the new Hoodi testnet ensured stability and improved finalization logic.
Token Unlocks in May
Significant token unlocks could impact supply dynamics and market behavior:
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May 9: Movement (MOVE) — 50M
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May 11: Solayer (LAYER) — 27.02M
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May 12: Aptos (APT) — 11.31M
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May 13: BounceBit (BB) — 42.9M
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May 15: Starknet (STRK) — 127M
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May 15: Sei (SEI) — 55.56M
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May 16: Arbitrum (ARB) — 92.65M
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May 16: Immutable (IMX) — 24.52M
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May 17: Avalanche (AVAX) — 1.67M
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May 18: Melania Meme (MELANIA) — 26.25M
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May 19: Pyth Network (PYTH) — 2.13B
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May 28: Bio Protocol (BIO) — 339.08M
Major Conferences: Dubai FinTech and Bitcoin 2025
May 12–13 – Dubai FinTech Summit 2025
Hosted by DIFC, this summit brings 8,000+ attendees from 100+ countries. Key themes include Web3 adoption, CBDCs, crypto regulation, and blockchain integration in traditional finance. Speakers include UAE Finance Minister, IIF President, and Paytm founder.
May 27–29 – Bitcoin 2025, Las Vegas
One of the world’s largest Bitcoin events returns. Over 30,000 participants expected, with speakers like Michael Saylor, Arthur Hayes, and Caitlin Long. Focus topics include Lightning Network, Bitcoin ETFs, mining, DeFi, and digital sovereignty.
Other Highlights: Conflux and Storage Burn
Conflux Network initiated a vote to burn 76 million CFX tokens, reduce inflation, and introduce storage burn mechanics via v2.3.0. Staking returns have also increased, reaching up to 12% APR based on locked supply.
