Ethereum News Today: Whales Stake Bet on Chainlink's Cross-Chain Bridge to the Future

Chainlink (LINK) has experienced a notable surge in whale address activity, with recent data indicating a growing interest from large investors and institutional players. According to on-chain data from Alphractal, the number of wallets holding between 100,000 and 1 million LINK, as well as those holding over 1 million LINK, has surpassed 600, setting a new all-time high (ATH) in September. During the first two days of the month, these whale wallets accumulated 1.25 million LINK, signaling a strong bullish sentiment and confidence in the project’s long-term potential [1].

This uptick in whale activity is further supported by rising trading volumes. CoinMarketCap reports that LINK’s daily trading volume has consistently ranged between $1 billion and $2 billion in recent weeks, significantly above the average of around $500 million in July. This surge in trading demand aligns with broader market confidence, especially considering that LINK’s realized price currently sits at approximately $15.1, representing the average cost of all circulating tokens. This metric often acts as a strong support level during market corrections, offering a baseline for potential price stability [1].

One of the primary drivers of Chainlink’s growing appeal is the expanding use of its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), which has become a key infrastructure tool in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. On September 4, CCIP processed over $130 million in cross-chain transfers, with more than $106 million of this volume linked to transactions involving World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a DeFi project supported by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s team. The increasing demand for WLFI has reinforced the practicality of CCIP, solidifying Chainlink’s role as a vital bridge for cross-chain asset transfers [1].

The growing adoption of CCIP is further complemented by Chainlink’s recent collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Under this partnership, critical macroeconomic indicators such as GDP growth and the PCE Price Index will be published directly on-chain, providing real-time data for on-chain applications and DeFi platforms. This development enhances Chainlink’s infrastructure as a backbone for blockchain-based financial products and opens new avenues for institutional and retail users to access verified economic data [2].

Chainlink’s expanding institutional partnerships and government collaborations are also contributing to a more favorable investment environment. Notably, Bitwise has filed for a spot Chainlink ETF with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a move that could further boost institutional adoption. This comes at a time when Chainlink’s price is showing strong technical indicators, with the token trading around $24 and approaching key resistance levels. Analysts suggest that a successful breakout above $25.50 could lead to further upward movement, aligning with February’s highs. However, caution is advised, as a failure to hold above $24.20 could trigger a pullback toward $23.00 support [2].

The broader cryptocurrency market has shown mixed signals, with Ethereum whales also accumulating more of the asset in recent months. Santiment data reveals that large-scale Ethereum holders increased their positions by 14% over five months, driven by strong performance metrics and growing institutional interest in Ethereum-based ETFs. While Ethereum and Chainlink are distinct assets, their parallel accumulation trends suggest a broader narrative of institutional confidence in blockchain infrastructure projects [3].

The convergence of whale accumulation, cross-chain utility, and institutional adoption indicates that Chainlink is well-positioned for continued growth. With the recent surge in whale activity, expanding CCIP usage, and strategic government partnerships, the project is demonstrating a robust infrastructure capable of supporting both DeFi and traditional financial applications. As on-chain activity continues to evolve and cross-chain transactions become more prevalent, Chainlink’s role in bridging blockchain ecosystems is likely to strengthen further [1][2].

Source:

[1] Chainlink whale addresses reach all-time high in September amid rising demand for cross-chain WLFI (https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/chainlink-whale-addresses-reach-all-time-high-in-september-amid-rising-demand-for-cross-chain-wlfi-202509041729)

[2] Chainlink Surges 3% to $24 After U.S. Government Data Integration (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1090560-20250903)