Chainlink (LINK) Rises 8.3% on Whale Activity and Institutional Deals

Chainlink’s (LINK) token price surged 8.3% to exceed $26, outperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum, as whale activity and institutional interest drive renewed momentum. The rally marked a more than 30% increase from the prior month, with LINK stabilizing near $24.71 at press time. This move coincided with a broader uptrend in the crypto market, which saw a total valuation of $3.85 trillion and a 24-hour trading volume of $188.59 billion [1].

On-chain data revealed heightened engagement, with nearly 9,813 addresses processing LINK transfers on August 17, and over 9,600 new wallets created the following day. These figures represent the highest user activity levels of the year, signaling broadening adoption and a maturing user base [1]. Whale transactions also reached multi-month highs, with a major whale withdrawing approximately 1.29 million LINK — valued at $31 million — from Binance. The withdrawal suggests a long-term holding strategy, reinforcing the token’s appeal as a strategic asset [1].

Institutional adoption is also on the rise. Chainlink has initiated over 30 testing or pilot projects with global financial institutions, including Visa, Mastercard, JPMorgan, BNY Mellon, and Fidelity. These collaborations aim to integrate blockchain and tokenized assets into traditional financial systems. Additionally, central banks and regional lenders in Brazil, Europe, and Asia are exploring Chainlink-powered solutions, highlighting its role in bridging decentralized and traditional finance [1].

Chainlink’s buyback program further supports the bullish narrative. The company acquired 109,664 LINK tokens worth approximately $2.8 million, underscoring strong demand and a strategic approach to market positioning. Open interest in LINK futures reached an all-time high of $1.5 billion — a nearly 60% increase since the start of 2025 — reflecting growing trader confidence in the token’s future [1].

Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink, has remained active in regulatory discussions, meeting with U.S. Senator Tim Scott to discuss a new market structure bill aimed at fostering crypto industry growth. This engagement highlights Chainlink’s proactive approach to shaping regulatory frameworks while positioning itself as a critical infrastructure provider in the blockchain ecosystem [1].

At 4:15 pm UTC on August 20, 2025, LINK traded at $25.91, with a market capitalization of $17.57 billion and a 24-hour trading volume of $2.55 billion. The token ranked 11th by market cap, demonstrating its growing influence in the crypto space. While the positive indicators are clear, elevated exchange positions and potential whale selling could introduce short-term volatility. However, the combination of whale accumulation, institutional partnerships, and regulatory engagement continues to build a compelling case for Chainlink’s long-term potential.

Source: [1] Chainlink surges on whale buying, institutional partnerships (https://cryptoslate.com/chainlink-hits-7-month-high-with-whale-support-and-new-partnerships/)