- Chainlink holds steady near $21.70 as whale accumulation, reduced exchange supply, and rising open interest signal tightening liquidity and bullish sentiment.
- A break above the $24 resistance could trigger staged rallies toward $31.8, $52.3, and potentially $95, according to analyst Ali Martinez.
- Whales added 4.55M LINK in August while exchange balances dropped by 33M, creating conditions for an explosive breakout if buying pressure continues.
Chainlink is holding steady around $21.70, and the market’s leaning bullish — thanks to whales loading up, exchange balances thinning out, and open interest climbing. On-chain analyst Ali Martinez says if LINK can clear the $24 barrier, it could kick off a multi-leg rally, with a path that might eventually lead toward the $95 mark.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump’s recent executive order allowing crypto in 401(k) plans could be the kind of macro push that gets LINK over that $24–$26 zone. On the charts, LINK’s been coiling in a symmetrical triangle since 2021 — the kind of long-term setup that historically resolves with sharp bursts upward, often in multiple stages.
Supply Squeeze Builds Under the Surface
Behind the scenes, the fundamentals are stacking up nicely. The Chainlink Reserve recently scooped up 65,550 LINK — worth about $1.4 million — at an average of $16.83. That’s less circulating supply on exchanges and more in long-term holdings, a setup that’s helped fuel rallies in the past. Over $1 million worth has already been stashed away in a corporate-treasury style approach, bolstering confidence among traders watching for a scarcity-driven move.
As liquidity tightens, market sentiment can flip fast — speculators tend to pile in when they sense supply is drying up, which can make any breakout even more explosive.
Whales in Accumulation Mode
In the past month, LINK has jumped nearly 44%, now hovering near $21.15. Wallets holding between 100,000 and 1 million LINK have grown by 4.2% in August — that’s an extra 4.55 million tokens, valued at roughly $97 million, swallowed up by big holders. Exchange reserves have dropped by 33 million LINK since July, signaling even less liquidity in the market. Open interest in derivatives is also up 27% to $1.06 billion, showing large traders are clearly betting on more upside.
Path Toward $95 — Step by Step
Martinez’s roadmap calls for a break above $24 to trigger the first leg toward $31.8, with the next target sitting at $52.3. Only then would bulls eye the triple-digit shot toward $95. Each move would likely come with pauses and pullbacks, giving the market time to breathe before the next run.
Right now, LINK’s got the technicals, the accumulation trend, and a tightening liquidity backdrop. If bulls crack that $21.6–$24 ceiling, this could be the moment LINK finally leaves its years-long sideways grind and starts a cycle that rewrites its price history.