Market Overview for Chainlink/Tether (LINKUSDT): January 18, 2026

Summary
• Price declined from 13.83 to 13.76 amid bearish divergence and oversold RSI.
• Volatility expanded as price hit lower Bollinger Band, suggesting potential for further downside.
• A 50-period moving average on the 5-minute chart acts as short-term resistance, currently at 13.80.
• Volume spiked during the late-night dip, confirming bearish momentum below 13.77.

Chainlink/Tether (LINKUSDT) opened at 13.78 on January 17, peaked at 13.83, and closed at 13.76 by 12:00 ET on January 18, with a 24-hour low of 13.65. The pair recorded a total volume of 702,188.54 and a notional turnover of $9,427,241.69, indicating moderate trading activity.

Structure & Formations

Price action shows a bearish consolidation with key support identified at 13.74 and resistance at 13.80. A long lower shadow appeared during the 03:45–04:00 ET candle, indicating rejection at 13.71–13.72. A series of bearish engulfing patterns emerged from 1:00–3:00 ET, reinforcing the downward bias. A doji near 13.76 suggests indecision ahead of a potential reversal or consolidation.

Moving Averages

On the 5-minute chart, the 20-period MA is currently at 13.80 and acting as resistance. The 50-period MA is at 13.81, with price failing to hold above it. On the daily chart, the 50-period MA is at 13.85, while the 200-period MA is at 13.70—suggesting a possible consolidation zone in the near term.

MACD & RSI

The 12–26 MACD crossed below the signal line during the early hours of January 18, reinforcing bearish momentum. RSI hit oversold territory at 30, near 13.73, suggesting a potential bounce could be imminent. However, the RSI divergence with price (higher lows in price vs. lower lows in RSI) raises caution about a deeper pullback.

Bollinger Bands

Volatility expanded as the price reached the lower Bollinger Band during the 2:00–2:15 ET time frame, with a width of ~0.08. The band contraction before 12:00–1:00 ET suggested a period of consolidation before the breakout. Currently, price is resting near the lower band, suggesting a possible rebound or continuation of the trend.

Volume & Turnover

Volume spiked between 1:00–2:30 ET as the price declined below 13.80, reaching a peak of 31,207.02 in volume and $427,046.53 in turnover. This confirms bearish momentum. A divergence appears in the latter half of the 24-hour window, where volume declined despite continued price drops, suggesting weakening bearish conviction.

Fibonacci Retracements

Applying Fibonacci retracement to the 5-minute swing from 13.83 to 13.65, key levels at 13.77 (38.2%) and 13.73 (61.8%) have acted as pivot points. Price appears to have stalled near the 61.8% level, indicating a potential floor for the next 24 hours. On the daily chart, the 61.8% retracement of a larger bullish trend sits at 13.68—aligning with recent lows.

LINKUSDT appears to be in a phase of bearish consolidation with oversold momentum indicators and volume divergence hinting at potential near-term support. Traders may watch for a retest of 13.73 as a key threshold, with a possible bounce expected if bulls can re-engage. However, a breakdown below 13.65 could increase downside risk, especially if volume rises again.