Why did the price of LINK go up?
Chainlink (LINK) increased by 3.71% in the past 24 hours, outperforming the overall crypto market, which rose by 2.3%. This growth is driven by strategic reserve buying, large investor (whale) accumulation, and important protocol partnerships that support the tokenization of real-world assets.
- Chainlink Reserve purchased $5.33M worth of LINK – This reduces the available supply and shows confidence in the long-term value of LINK.
- Whales are buying more LINK – Over 721,000 LINK (about $17.4 million) have been withdrawn from exchanges recently, indicating strong interest from big holders.
- Cross-chain use is expanding – World Chain (WLD) has integrated Chainlink’s CCIP, opening up cross-chain transfers for 35 million users.
Deep Dive
1. Strategic Reserve Growth (Positive for LINK)
What happened: On September 4, Chainlink’s on-chain reserve bought 43,937 LINK (around $5.33 million), increasing their total holdings to 237,014 LINK. This reserve takes revenue from the network’s services and automatically buys LINK, which helps reduce the number of tokens available on the market.
Why it matters: By steadily buying LINK and holding it until at least 2028, the reserve reduces supply and shows strong confidence in the network’s future. This supports the price by creating consistent demand.
2. Whale Accumulation & Supply Changes (Positive for LINK)
What happened: Large investors, known as whales, withdrew 721,000 LINK (worth $17.4 million) from Binance in mid-August. This is part of a larger trend where whales added 8 million LINK in the third quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, the total amount of LINK held on exchanges has dropped by 33 million since July.
Why it matters: When whales move LINK off exchanges, it means they are holding rather than selling, which reduces supply and can lead to price increases. Historically, when the top 100 wallets hold a large share of LINK (currently 45%), it often signals upcoming price rallies.
3. Institutional Adoption Through CCIP (Mixed Outlook)
What happened: On September 26, World Chain (WLD) integrated Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), allowing 35 million users to transfer assets across different blockchains. Additionally, companies like Visa and ANZ Bank have tested Chainlink for digital currency swaps involving central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins.
Why it matters: These partnerships increase the real-world use of LINK and its technology, but the impact on price will depend on how quickly transaction volumes grow through CCIP, which is still in the early stages.
Conclusion
LINK’s recent price increase is supported by a shrinking supply due to reserve buying and whale accumulation, along with growing use cases in enterprise settings. However, technical indicators show mixed signals: the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is neutral at 45.21, and the MACD shows bearish divergence.
Key point to watch: Can LINK stay above the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $21.13? Holding this level could lead to a move toward $24.24. Keep an eye on CCIP transaction volumes and how quickly the reserve continues to accumulate LINK for clearer confirmation.
What could affect the price of LINK?
Chainlink’s price is balancing between growing interest from big investors and the ups and downs of the market.
- ETF Approvals – Applications from Bitwise and Grayscale could open the door for more institutional investment (positive sign).
- Whale Buying – Large investors purchased over $13 million worth of LINK in just two days, reducing the amount available on exchanges (positive sign).
- Regulatory Risks – The SEC’s approach to crypto ETFs and new stablecoin laws like the GENIUS Act create mixed outcomes.
Deep Dive
1. ETF Filings & Institutional Adoption (Positive Outlook)
Overview:
Bitwise and Grayscale have applied to launch LINK ETFs, similar to what happened with Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. If approved, these ETFs would allow big investors like pension funds and hedge funds to invest in Chainlink more easily and safely. Chainlink’s partnerships with major companies like ICE, DTCC, Mastercard, and ANZ Bank highlight its growing role in the financial world.
What this means:
If the ETFs get approved, it could lead to steady buying pressure on LINK, similar to the boost Bitcoin saw in 2024 after its ETF approval. LINK’s price already jumped 6% after Bitwise’s filing (Bitwise). However, there’s still a chance the SEC could delay approval for altcoins like LINK until 2026.
2. Whale Activity & Supply Dynamics (Positive Outlook)
Overview:
In August 2025, large investors (often called “whales”) bought about 8 million LINK tokens, worth roughly $173 million. At the same time, Chainlink’s Reserve locked away 237,000 LINK (about $5.3 million) from business revenue. The amount of LINK held on exchanges has dropped by 40% this year, meaning fewer tokens are available for sale.
What this means:
If these big investors keep buying and holding LINK, the reduced supply could push prices higher. LINK’s 43% price increase in August matches these buying trends. However, there’s a risk that if prices fall, traders who borrowed money to buy LINK (open interest rose 27% to $1.06 billion) might be forced to sell quickly, causing sharp price drops.
3. Regulatory Hurdles & Market Risks (Mixed Outlook)
Overview:
Chainlink is working with the SEC’s Crypto Task Force to help shape rules around tokenization. However, new laws like the GENIUS Act, which restricts certain stablecoins that earn interest, could slow down growth in decentralized finance (DeFi). Additionally, overall market fear is moderate (fear index at 34), and Bitcoin’s dominance in the market is high (57.8%), which can limit how much money flows into altcoins like LINK.
What this means:
Clearer regulations could help LINK become more useful in compliant financial products. But if the overall crypto market weakens—like Bitcoin’s recent 6% weekly drop—it could hurt LINK’s price despite its individual strengths.
Conclusion
Chainlink’s price depends on whether ETF approvals bring in more institutional investors, continued buying by large holders reduces supply, and how well it handles regulatory challenges. Technical analysis suggests that if LINK breaks above $24, it could reach $31.80 (based on Fibonacci levels). Traders should keep an eye on SEC decisions and how LINK’s price moves with Bitcoin. Will Chainlink’s growing use in big companies overcome the broader market challenges in the last quarter of the year?
What are people saying about LINK?
Talk around Chainlink (LINK) is a back-and-forth between hopes for a price surge and strong resistance levels. Here’s what’s trending:
- Grayscale’s ETF filing is sparking optimistic speculation.
- A partnership with the U.S. government boosts Chainlink’s credibility with big institutions.
- The $26.60 price point stands as a key level that could determine the next move.
Deep Dive
1. @AkaBull_: Grayscale ETF filing seen as positive
"Grayscale has filed S1 for Chainlink $LINK ETF… US government also partnered with it."
– @AkaBull (12.4K followers · 58K impressions · 2025-09-08 16:49 UTC)
[View original post](https://x.com/AkaBull/status/1965095253016543526)
What this means: This is good news for LINK. When big investment firms like Grayscale file for ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), it usually signals growing interest from large investors. Plus, the U.S. government’s recent use of Chainlink to provide economic data shows it has practical, real-world applications.
2. @UniChartz: Potential breakout above $30
"LINK is gearing up for an explosive move… breaking long-term resistance since 2024."
– @UniChartz (9.2K followers · 23K impressions · 2025-08-26 13:16 UTC)
View original post
What this means: This is a mixed signal. Technical analysis suggests LINK could rise, but it faces strong resistance around $26.46 and profit-taking pressure near $30.93, which was its high earlier this year.
3. @cryptoWZRD_: Short-term bearish signs
"LINKBTC and BTC.D will play a major role… tracking for quick scalp opportunities."
– @cryptoWZRD (7.8K followers · 14K impressions · 2025-09-03 01:27 UTC)
[View original post](https://x.com/cryptoWZRD/status/1963051117220081988)
What this means: This is neutral for LINK. Traders watching short-term price moves see volatility linked to Bitcoin’s market dominance (currently 57.85%). However, LINK’s 20-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $19.47 offers some support over the medium term.
Conclusion
Overall, opinions on Chainlink are mixed. Institutional interest and partnerships highlight its growing importance, but technical resistance around $26.60 is a key hurdle to clear for a sustained rally. Keep an eye on the Chainlink Reserve’s accumulation rate—their weekly purchases of over $1 million in LINK could reduce available supply and impact price if this continues.
What is the latest news about LINK?
Chainlink is gaining momentum thanks to growing use by big companies and expanding its network. Here’s the latest:
- Institutional Demand Surge (Sept 27, 2025) – LINK’s price jumped 82% in Q3 as decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset projects pick up.
- Solana Builder Integration (Sept 26, 2025) – LYS Labs joined Chainlink’s program to build tools that work across different blockchains.
- Reserve Growth Continues (Sept 5, 2025) – Chainlink’s LINK token reserves grew past $5.3 million through revenue conversions.
Deep Dive
1. Institutional Demand Surge (Sept 27, 2025)
Overview:
In the third quarter of 2025, Chainlink’s LINK token price rose by 82%. This growth is mainly because big companies are using Chainlink to verify data across different blockchains and support tokenized assets (digital versions of real-world things). For example, Mastercard and J.P. Morgan’s Kinexys are using Chainlink to connect traditional finance systems with blockchain technology. Experts expect LINK’s price to reach between $25 and $30 by the end of the year.
What this means:
This is good news for LINK because it shows that big institutions trust Chainlink for handling real-world assets, a market expected to be worth over $30 trillion. However, Chainlink faces competition from other projects like Band Protocol, and new regulations on stablecoins (like the GENIUS Act) could slow down growth. (Bitget)
2. Solana Builder Integration (Sept 26, 2025)
Overview:
LYS Labs, a company focused on building data tools for the Solana blockchain, joined Chainlink’s Build on Solana Program. This partnership gives LYS Labs technical support and security to improve Solana’s automated trading systems, which handled 16 billion events in its first month.
What this means:
This development is somewhat positive because it helps Chainlink expand across multiple blockchains. However, since Solana serves a specific niche, the immediate impact on cross-chain activity is limited. The success of this partnership depends on how well LYS Flash, their fast trade execution tool (aiming for 36 milliseconds), is adopted. (CoinTelegraph)
3. Reserve Growth Continues (Sept 5, 2025)
Overview:
On September 5, Chainlink added 43,937 LINK tokens (worth over $1 million) to its on-chain reserve, bringing the total to 237,014 LINK (about $5.3 million). These reserves grow automatically by converting revenue from enterprise partnerships and protocol fees. Chainlink does not plan to withdraw any tokens from this reserve until 2027.
What this means:
This is a positive sign for the long term because recycling revenue into LINK tokens reduces the number of tokens available on the market, which can support the price. In the short term, the reserve’s transparency (anyone can track it on Etherscan) helps reduce risks of sudden large sales, but it hasn’t yet stopped LINK’s price from dropping 7.6% over the past 30 days. (Binance Square)
Conclusion
Chainlink’s combination of growing use by institutions, tools that work across different blockchains, and smart token management makes it a key player in the blockchain economy. While short-term price swings continue, Chainlink remains unmatched in connecting traditional finance with decentralized finance. The big question is whether Chainlink’s growing reserves can keep it ahead of new competitors in the oracle space.
What is expected in the development of LINK?
Chainlink is making steady progress with these key developments:
- CCIP Mainnet Expansion (Q4 2025) – Opening its cross-chain protocol to the public.
- Data Streams General Availability (2025) – Growing fast, low-latency data feeds for derivatives markets.
- Proof of Reserve for RWAs (Ongoing) – Improving transparency for tokenized real-world assets.
- Automation 2.0 Upgrades (2025) – Adding modular features that work with CCIP and Data Streams.
- VRF v2.5 Launch (2026) – Delivering faster and cheaper verifiable randomness for Web3 gaming.
Deep Dive
1. CCIP Mainnet Expansion (Q4 2025)
Overview
Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) has already handled over $2.2 billion in transfers across more than 50 blockchains (Chainlink). The next step is to open CCIP fully to the public, focusing on stablecoins like USDC and enterprise use cases. This includes partnerships with organizations like DTCC and ANZ Bank to help settle tokenized assets.
What this means
This is a positive sign for LINK, as CCIP could become the go-to method for large-scale cross-chain transactions, potentially earning fees from trillions in tokenized assets. However, competition from native blockchain bridges and regulatory challenges could pose risks.
2. Data Streams General Availability (2025)
Overview
After a successful launch on GMX V2, Chainlink’s Data Streams will leave Early Access on Arbitrum and expand to Solana and zkEVM blockchains. The upgrade adds advanced data formats like OHLC candlesticks and liquidity metrics, along with on-chain billing (Q4 2023 Update).
What this means
This development is somewhat positive, especially for high-frequency trading platforms. However, growth depends on the derivatives market expanding. Currently, decentralized finance (DeFi) total value locked (TVL) is declining, which might slow revenue growth.
3. Proof of Reserve for RWAs (Ongoing)
Overview
Chainlink is working with Backed Finance and the Stablecoin Standards Body to verify reserves backing tokenized Treasuries and commodities. In July 2025, Chainlink integrated with Swell Network to enable real-time verification of liquid staking token collateral (News).
What this means
This is a strong long-term positive as traditional finance (TradFi) increasingly adopts blockchain solutions. In fact, 40% of Chainlink’s revenue in Q2 2025 came from real-world asset projects. Still, relying on third-party auditors like KPMG introduces some risk.
4. Automation 2.0 Upgrades (2025)
Overview
Chainlink Automation is evolving into a middleware layer that integrates with CCIP for cross-chain balance monitoring and with Data Streams for automated trade execution. A recent partnership with Lyra uses Automation to settle options contracts (Devconnect Istanbul).
What this means
This is neutral news. Automation enhances Chainlink’s platform by making it stickier for users, but it faces competition and pricing pressure from Layer 2-native services like Gelato Network.
Conclusion
Chainlink’s roadmap focuses on connecting traditional finance and decentralized finance through CCIP and real-world assets, while strengthening its oracle services with Data Streams. With $89 billion in secured value as of August 2025, institutional use is clear. However, LINK’s price has dropped 8.72% over the past month, reflecting broader market challenges. Watch for Q4 2025 milestones and stablecoin integrations to see if CCIP’s enterprise adoption can outpace the crypto market’s weekly decline of 5.34%.
What updates are there in the LINK code base?
Chainlink’s software continues to improve steadily, with important updates that boost its ability to connect different blockchains and provide reliable data services.
- Data Streams Expansion (September 25, 2025) – Now available on Plasma and 0G blockchains, offering faster market data.
- CCIP Protocol Upgrades (September 25, 2025) – Added support for 0G and Plasma networks to enable secure cross-chain transfers.
- Solana Data Feed Migration (September 17, 2025) – Replaced older Solana data feeds with a new, more efficient system called Data Streams.
Deep Dive
1. Data Streams Expansion (September 25, 2025)
What happened: Chainlink’s Data Streams, which deliver quick and reliable price information, expanded to work on the Plasma and 0G blockchains. This means traders on decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms can get price updates in less than a second, which is crucial for fast-paced trading like derivatives and perpetual contracts.
Developers now have access to new tools that help them build faster and more efficient DeFi apps. Plasma’s technology is compatible with Ethereum and uses a method called ZK-rollups to improve speed and security. The 0G network is designed for large-scale business applications that need high performance.
Why it matters: Faster and more dependable data feeds attract bigger financial players to use Chainlink, which can increase the network’s revenue and overall value (Source).
2. CCIP Protocol Upgrades (September 25, 2025)
What happened: Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) now supports the 0G and Plasma networks. This allows tokens and smart contracts to move securely across more than 60 different blockchains.
The update also introduces new standards for cross-chain tokens like stBTC and USD0, making it easier to manage liquidity across multiple blockchains. The 0G blockchain’s flexible design benefits from these improvements, especially for business processes that require programmable token transfers.
Why it matters: While this update might not immediately affect LINK’s price, it strengthens Chainlink’s position as a key player in connecting different blockchains, which is important for companies interested in tokenized assets (Source).
3. Solana Data Feed Migration (September 17, 2025)
What happened: Chainlink stopped using the older push-based data feeds on Solana and switched to a pull-based system called Data Streams. This change reduces delays and lowers transaction costs (gas fees).
This move is part of a larger effort to standardize how price data is delivered on demand, covering over 2,000 assets now. Developers working with Solana need to update their systems to use the new Data Streams for real-time price information.
Why it matters: This upgrade improves Chainlink’s infrastructure for the long run by making it easier and cheaper for developers to access data. However, there might be some short-term disruptions as users switch to the new system (Source).
Conclusion
Chainlink’s updates in the third quarter of 2025 focus on making its platform faster (Data Streams), more connected (CCIP), and more modern (Solana migration). These improvements reinforce Chainlink’s role as a vital data provider for Web3 applications. The key question is whether growing enterprise use will help Chainlink stay ahead of competitors like Pyth and API3.