Deep Dive
1. Revenue-Driven Buybacks (Bullish Impact)
Overview:
PublicAI’s tokenomics link new $PUBLIC issuance to enterprise payments, with 90% of revenue allocated to buybacks. The project has already executed a $129,000 buyback (2M tokens) in September 2025, funded by $14M in cumulative revenue. This mechanism aims to create deflationary pressure as demand grows.
What this means:
If adoption scales, buybacks could counter inflation and stabilize prices. However, reliance on enterprise clients (e.g., AWS, ABAKA) introduces execution risk – sluggish revenue growth would weaken this mechanism.
2. Chainlink Partnership & AI Adoption (Mixed Impact)
Overview:
PublicAI’s September 2025 integration with Chainlink expands its decentralized data validation to blockchain oracles, targeting AI model training and risk analysis. While this drove a 39% price spike post-announcement, sustained demand depends on proving real-world use cases.
What this means:
Short-term hype may fade without measurable adoption. The partnership’s success hinges on converting AI industry demand into protocol usage, a process likely spanning 6–12 months.
3. Token Unlocks & Early Investor Exits (Bearish Impact)
Overview:
Only 20% of the 1B $PUBLIC supply is circulating as of October 2025. Early backers (e.g., Solana Foundation, NEAR) hold tokens subject to staged unlocks through 2026. The FDV ($70M) is 23x higher than the current $3M market cap, creating valuation headwinds.
What this means:
Unlocks could flood the market if holders cash out, especially if revenue growth lags. The 73% price drop since August’s $0.154 ATH suggests weak holder conviction during initial unlocks.
Conclusion
PublicAI’s price will likely hinge on balancing buyback-driven scarcity against unlock-driven dilution. Watch Q4 2025 metrics: enterprise revenue growth, DAO governance rollout, and the pace of token burns. Can PublicAI convert its 2.9M-user network into sustainable demand before unlocks accelerate?