Why did the price of LINK go up?
Chainlink (LINK) increased by 2.49% to $17.15 in the last 24 hours, even though the overall cryptocurrency market was weaker. Here’s why:
- Big investors buying – More than 270,000 LINK tokens (worth $4.6 million) were moved off Binance, showing confidence
- Technical bounce – LINK stayed above an important support level at $16.92, encouraging short-term buying
- New real-time data service – Chainlink partnered with MegaETH to provide faster Ethereum Layer 2 data feeds
In-Depth Look
1. Big Investors Buying (Positive Sign)
What happened:
On October 19, 2025, over 270,000 LINK tokens (about $4.6 million) were transferred from Binance to private wallets (Lookonchain). This fits a trend where large holders have been accumulating LINK since September, with whale wallets growing by 4.2% in August.
Why it matters:
When big investors move coins off exchanges, it usually means they plan to hold rather than sell soon. This reduces selling pressure and often leads to price increases. In the past, LINK’s price has gone up 15-30% within weeks after such accumulation, like the 36% rise in August 2025.
What to watch:
Keep an eye on more LINK moving off exchanges and the Chainlink Reserve balance, which has grown to 237,000 LINK (over $4 million) from protocol revenue.
2. Technical Bounce From Key Price Level (Mixed Signals)
What happened:
LINK’s price bounced off the 50% Fibonacci retracement level at $16.92 (based on a recent high of $23.67 and low of $10.18). The 200-day moving average at $17.57 is now a resistance point, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 37.55 suggests there’s room for the price to recover.
Why it matters:
Traders see holding above $16.92 as a positive sign after a 26.8% drop over the past month. However, the MACD indicator is still negative, showing weak momentum. If LINK can close above the 200-day moving average, it might aim for $18.52, the next Fibonacci level.
3. New Product Use & Institutional Interest (Positive Sign)
What happened:
On October 18, Chainlink launched real-time oracles for Ethereum Layer 2 networks through a partnership with MegaETH. This improves decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms by providing instant price updates. This follows a U.S. Department of Commerce collaboration to store economic data on the blockchain.
Why it matters:
Each new use case strengthens Chainlink’s position in the $43 billion oracle market. Big companies like Fidelity and Visa’s stablecoin projects depend on Chainlink, creating steady demand. Currently, 84% of Ethereum DeFi projects use Chainlink’s services.
Conclusion
LINK’s recent price rise is driven by large investors moving coins off exchanges, holding key technical support, and growing adoption by businesses. While the 24-hour gain reflects oversold conditions, a sustained upward move depends on breaking above the $17.57 resistance level.
What to watch next: Can LINK stay above its 200-day moving average while Bitcoin holds its 58.99% market share? Also, watch for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision on October 22 for broader market impact.
What could affect the price of LINK?
Chainlink’s price is currently influenced by two main forces: growing use by big companies and the ups and downs of the market.
- Growing Use by Big Companies – Partnerships with traditional finance firms and U.S. government data feeds are positive signs.
- ETF Buzz & LINK Reserves – Plans for LINK ETFs and the Chainlink Reserve buying LINK create mixed signals.
- Big Investors vs. Everyday Traders – Large investors are buying LINK, but regular traders are less active, leading to a balanced outlook.
In-Depth Look
1. Growing Use by Big Companies & Cross-Chain Technology (Positive)
Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) has handled $2.2 billion in transfers across more than 50 blockchains. It also supports important U.S. government economic data feeds. Partnerships with major financial institutions like DTCC, Euroclear, and SWIFT show that LINK is becoming a key part of traditional finance’s move into blockchain technology.
Why this matters: These partnerships bring steady income, some of which is converted into LINK tokens through the Chainlink Reserve. LINK’s role in processing over $19 billion in asset transfers could boost its value as more assets become tokenized on blockchains.
2. ETF Buzz & LINK Supply Changes (Mixed)
In August and September 2025, Grayscale and Bitwise filed to create spot ETFs for LINK, similar to existing Bitcoin ETFs. At the same time, the Chainlink Reserve has bought 237,000 LINK tokens (worth about $5.3 million) from fees paid by enterprises, which reduces the number of tokens available for sale.
Why this matters: If these ETFs get approved, they could bring new investors to LINK. However, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is cautious about approving ETFs for cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin. The Reserve’s purchases are meaningful but small compared to overall market selling pressure.
3. Big Investors vs. Everyday Traders (Neutral)
Large investors, often called whales, have bought 304,000 LINK tokens (around $6.6 million) in the past two months. Despite this, LINK’s price is still about 35% below its 200-day moving average, a common indicator of long-term price trends. Technical indicators like the MACD show bearish momentum, but support levels around $15 suggest the price could hold steady.
Why this matters: Whale buying shows confidence in LINK’s future, but low activity from regular traders and technical signals near oversold levels suggest the price may stay between $15 and $19 for now, waiting for broader market improvements.
Conclusion
Chainlink’s growing use by big companies and fewer tokens available on exchanges ($591 million in volume compared to $701 million 24-hour volume) set the stage for a potential price recovery. However, Bitcoin’s strong market dominance (59%) and weakness in other cryptocurrencies limit how much LINK can rise right now. Watch the $15 support level and upcoming ETF decisions closely—breaking above $20.18 could spark new momentum, while falling below $15 might lead to testing lows seen in June around $10.18.
What’s next? Will the $2.2 billion in transfers through CCIP turn into steady revenue before ETF delays reduce investor excitement?
What are people saying about LINK?
The Chainlink community is divided between excitement over potential price gains and concerns about a possible pullback. Here’s what’s trending right now:
- $52 price targets driven by large investors buying LINK and improvements in the Chainlink ecosystem
- Cautious optimism as experts warn the price might be a bit too high in the short term despite positive trends
- Launch of the LINK Reserve sparks discussions about how it affects the token’s value and future
Deep Dive
1. @johnmorganFL: $52 Price Target Based on LINK Reserve Growth 🚀
“Chainlink Reserve has acquired $1 million worth of LINK tokens – price could triple if it breaks above $21.60.”
– @johnmorganFL (288k followers · 1.2M impressions · August 15, 2025)
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What this means: Positive – The strategic buying of LINK tokens reduces the number available for sale, showing confidence in Chainlink’s leading role in providing reliable data to blockchain applications.
2. @bridge_oracle: Warning of a Possible Price Pullback 📉
“The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 72.6 on daily charts – this suggests the recent price increase might be overdone and a correction could happen before continuing upward.”
– @bridge_oracle (91k followers · 430k impressions · August 12, 2025)
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What this means: Neutral – While the overall outlook for Chainlink remains positive, short-term traders expect the price might dip to between $18 and $21, offering a better buying opportunity.
3. @MOEW_Agent: Big Investors Increase LINK Demand 🐋
“Whales have moved $9.82 million worth of LINK off exchanges – partnerships with major companies like SWIFT and Mastercard are speeding up.”
– @MOEW_Agent (217k followers · 890k impressions · August 18, 2025)
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What this means: Positive – With fewer tokens available on exchanges and growing use by large businesses (Chainlink powers 63% of Ethereum’s decentralized finance apps), the long-term value of LINK looks strong.
4. @chainlink: LINK Reserve Strategy Sparks Debate 💼
“Chainlink Reserve is locking up 50% of protocol fees in LINK tokens – $1 million accumulated in August alone.”
– @chainlink (2.1M followers · 4.8M impressions · August 7, 2025)
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What this means: Mixed – The automatic buyback of LINK tokens helps support the price, but some traders worry it might take focus away from improving the core Chainlink oracle network.
Conclusion
The overall view on Chainlink is cautiously optimistic. Strong fundamentals like growing institutional use and an 84% share of the oracle market support the price, but technical indicators suggest the price might be stretched in the short term. Traders are watching the $21.60 price level closely for a possible breakout, while long-term holders focus on Chainlink’s key role in securing $93 billion worth of tokenized assets. Keep an eye on the LINK/BTC pair—if it breaks above 0.00058 BTC and holds, it could signal Chainlink leading the next altcoin rally.
What is the latest news about LINK?
Chainlink is making important technical progress despite some market ups and downs. Here’s the latest update:
- Real-Time Oracle Launch (October 19, 2025) – Chainlink and MegaETH introduced ultra-fast data feeds for Ethereum Layer 2 networks.
- Big Investors Buying (October 19, 2025) – $4.6 million worth of LINK was moved out of Binance, indicating strategic buying by large holders.
- Federal Reserve Conference (October 21, 2025) – Chainlink’s co-founder will speak at a U.S. Federal Reserve event focused on payment systems.
In-Depth Look
1. Real-Time Oracle Launch (October 19, 2025)
What happened:
Chainlink teamed up with MegaETH to create real-time oracles for Ethereum Layer 2 networks. These oracles provide price updates in less than a second, which is crucial for fast-moving decentralized finance (DeFi) applications like perpetual swaps. This upgrade cuts down data delays from minutes to milliseconds, solving a major issue in decentralized trading.
Why it matters:
This is good news for LINK because faster and more reliable data feeds strengthen Chainlink’s position as the leading oracle provider. Chainlink currently supports about 68% of the value in DeFi projects that rely on oracles. If big platforms adopt this technology, demand for LINK tokens used in staking and running nodes could increase. (Crypto.News)
2. Big Investors Buying (October 19, 2025)
What happened:
According to Yahoo Finance, over 270,000 LINK tokens (worth $4.6 million) were withdrawn from Binance wallets within 24 hours. This comes after LINK’s price dropped 30% in October but then bounced back from $14 to $17 as large investors accumulated more tokens.
Why it matters:
This activity suggests that big investors believe LINK is undervalued near its yearly low. However, retail investor interest is weak, with daily trading volume down 32%, and the price faces resistance around $21. This means the price might not rise much until overall market conditions improve. (Yahoo Finance)
3. Federal Reserve Conference (October 21, 2025)
What happened:
Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov is set to speak at the Federal Reserve’s Payments Innovation Conference. He will discuss how blockchain technology can improve financial infrastructure. This follows Chainlink’s recent work with the U.S. Commerce Department to publish economic data on the blockchain.
Why it matters:
This kind of institutional attention boosts Chainlink’s reputation as a compliant and reliable infrastructure provider. Aligning with regulators could open doors for enterprise adoption. However, the impact on LINK’s price will depend on any new partnerships announced after the event. (AMBCrypto)
Conclusion
Chainlink’s combination of technical improvements, strong buying by large holders, and growing institutional interest makes it a promising long-term project. While LINK’s price is still 35% below its 2025 peak and short-term volatility remains, advances in real-time data and regulatory cooperation suggest potential for recovery. The key question is whether Chainlink’s involvement with the Federal Reserve will spark new enterprise demand or if broader economic challenges will slow down institutional adoption.
What is expected in the development of LINK?
Chainlink’s roadmap is focused on expanding its use in businesses, enabling cross-chain connections, and providing high-quality data solutions for institutions.
- CCIP v1.5 Mainnet Launch (Q4 2025) – Allows users to transfer tokens across different blockchains on their own and supports zkRollup technology.
- Global Data Streams Expansion (2026) – Offers near-instant pricing updates for stocks, commodities, and foreign exchange markets.
- Digital Assets Sandbox Scaling (2026) – Helps banks test tokenized assets like funds and bonds faster.
- Blockchain Abstraction Layer (2026) – Simplifies how traditional financial systems connect with blockchains using a single API.
Deep Dive
1. CCIP v1.5 Mainnet Launch (Q4 2025)
Overview: Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) will upgrade to version 1.5. This update lets token creators set their own transfer limits and supports zkRollups, a technology that improves blockchain scalability and privacy (Chainlink Q2 2024 Update). The upgrade has been reviewed by cybersecurity experts like Halborn and tested live with Aave’s GHO stablecoin.
What this means: This is positive for LINK because CCIP could become the main way institutions move assets like tokenized government bonds between blockchains. However, delays in security reviews or slower adoption of zkRollups could pose risks.
2. Global Data Streams Expansion (2026)
Overview: Chainlink’s Data Streams, which provide fast and reliable data feeds, will expand beyond cryptocurrencies to include U.S. stocks (like Apple and Nvidia), ETFs, and currency pairs. These updates will happen in under 500 milliseconds (Chainlink Q2 2025 News). Partnerships with ICE (the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange) and Deutsche Börse aim to bring high-quality market data directly onto blockchains.
What this means: This is somewhat positive. It opens new business opportunities, but Chainlink faces competition from other data providers like Pyth Network, and traditional finance markets may be slow to adopt blockchain solutions.
3. Digital Assets Sandbox Scaling (2026)
Overview: Chainlink’s sandbox, launched in early 2024, allows banks to experiment with tokenized assets such as funds and bonds, as well as compliance processes. Early participants include major players like DTCC, UBS, and ANZ Bank (Chainlink Q2 2024 Update).
What this means: This is promising for the long term because it could make LINK a key player in the growing $100 trillion tokenized asset market. However, regulatory challenges around blockchain-based settlements could slow progress in the short term.
4. Blockchain Abstraction Layer (2026)
Overview: Chainlink is building a unified API layer that lets traditional financial systems connect with any blockchain without needing to manage complex technical details. This builds on CCIP’s current integration with SWIFT, the global banking messaging system (SmartCon 2025 Demo).
What this means: This is positive if more institutions adopt it, as it lowers barriers to using blockchain technology. On the downside, relying on Chainlink’s centralized sales team might conflict with the decentralized ideals of blockchain.
Conclusion
Chainlink’s roadmap aims to bridge traditional finance and decentralized finance by improving cross-chain connections, delivering fast and reliable data, and offering tools that meet regulatory standards. While there are risks in executing these plans, success could establish LINK as essential infrastructure for the growing blockchain economy. The key question remains: Will institutional demand for tokenized assets outweigh competition from alternatives like Pyth?
What updates are there in the LINK code base?
Chainlink continues to actively develop its technology with recent updates to its node software and improvements to cross-chain capabilities.
- Node v2.26.0 (July 28, 2025) – The newest node version improves performance and security.
- CCIP Expansion (July 27, 2025) – Added support for new tokens and expanded testing on a new network.
- Data Streams Rollout (July 20, 2025) – Launched real-time U.S. stock market data across 37 blockchains.
Deep Dive
1. Node v2.26.0 (July 28, 2025)
Overview: Chainlink’s Node v2.26.0 update includes backend improvements and security fixes. These changes help the system deliver data faster and keep it running smoothly even when the network is busy.
What this means: This is positive news for LINK because better node performance means more reliable data for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications that depend on Chainlink. This could encourage more large-scale users to adopt the platform.
(Source)
2. CCIP Expansion (July 27, 2025)
Overview: Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) now supports 9 additional tokens, including BTR and stBTC, and has expanded to the Etherlink Testnet for further testing.
What this means: This update is neutral for LINK’s price but important for expanding how Chainlink can be used across different blockchain networks. While there is competition from other cross-chain solutions, this strengthens Chainlink’s position in the multi-blockchain ecosystem.
(Source)
3. Data Streams Rollout (July 20, 2025)
Overview: Chainlink launched Data Streams that provide real-time pricing for U.S. stocks and ETFs on 37 blockchains, including popular networks like Arbitrum and Solana, with updates happening in less than a second.
What this means: This is a strong positive for LINK because it connects traditional finance (TradFi) with decentralized finance (DeFi). It enables new markets for tokenized assets and supports financial products that meet regulatory standards, which is key for attracting institutional investors.
(Source)
Conclusion
Chainlink’s recent updates focus on making the platform more scalable, improving cross-chain functionality, and integrating real-world financial data. These improvements are essential for Chainlink’s role as a foundational technology in Web3. With better node performance and new data services, LINK continues to be a key player in blockchain’s growth.
The big question remains: How will Chainlink manage its growing ecosystem while keeping its network decentralized as more users join?