Chainlink is a decentralized oracle services network that helps smart contracts use data, computation, or messages from outside a blockchain. Its services include data feeds, automation, verifiable randomness, and cross-chain communication. LINK is the network’s native token, but application users do not always need to hold LINK directly.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | LINK |
| Price | $11.98 |
| Market Cap | $9.18B |
| 24h Change | -2.40% |
| Circulating Supply | 766.85M LINK |
| Max Supply | 1.00B LINK |
| All-Time High | $52.70 |
| Contract (Ethereum) | 0x5149...86ca |
| Contract (Klay Token) | 0x7311...fcd2 |
| Contract (Bittensor) | 0xf09a...5e13 |
| Contract (Taiko) | 0x917a...804d |
| Contract (Xdc Network) | 0xe27d...8b95 |
| Contract (Mode) | 0x183e...1f54 |
| Contract (Hydration) | asset_...0794 |
| Contract (Moonriver) | 0x8b12...fd3e |
| Contract (Merlin Chain) | 0x7105...018f |
| Contract (Metal L2) | 0x587d...8d5c |
| Contract (Metis Andromeda) | 0xd2fe...0353 |
| Contract (Ronin) | 0x3902...2d0b |
| Contract (Fantom) | 0xb365...bdc8 |
| Contract (Moonbeam) | 0x0124...8ac3 |
| Contract (Tac) | 0xc2be...9d4e |
| Contract (Base) | 0x88fb...e196 |
| Contract (Lens) | 0x6e97...e1b2 |
| Contract (Linea) | 0xa181...95e9 |
| Contract (Henesys) | 0x76a4...eb40 |
| Contract (Monad Mainnet) | 0x76f2...10a9 |
| Contract (Huobi Token) | 0x9e00...7b42 |
| Contract (Mint) | 0x7105...018f |
| Contract (Xdai) | 0xe2e7...09b2 |
| Contract (Near Protocol) | 514910...near |
| Contract (Mantle) | 0xfe36...e043 |
| Contract (Bittensor Evm) | 0xf09a...5e13 |
| Contract (Rootstock) | 0x938d...98a4 |
| Contract (Opbnb) | 0x99f0...2dea |
| Contract (Neo) | 0xb25d...5bfb |
| Contract (Plume Network) | 0xb549...7a64 |
| Contract (Polygon Zkevm) | 0xdb7a...573d |
| Contract (Scroll) | 0x548c...d3ac |
| Contract (Shibarium) | 0x7105...018f |
| Contract (Soneium) | 0x32d8...f3ec |
| Contract (Sonic) | 0x7105...018f |
| Contract (Superseed) | 0x41cc...72d9 |
| Contract (Unichain) | 0xef66...8a1a |
| Contract (Wemix Network) | 0x80f1...5d69 |
| Contract (X Layer) | 0x8af9...8fa9 |
| Contract (Zora Network) | 0x3662...8374 |
| Contract (Abstract) | 0x2ea3...29dd |
| Contract (Apechain) | 0xf575...9be6 |
| Contract (Astar) | 0x31ef...2a9d |
| Contract (Berachain) | 0x7105...018f |
| Contract (Bitlayer) | 0x56b2...76d9 |
| Contract (Bob Network) | 0x5ab8...c833 |
| Contract (Botanix) | 0x30e8...d241 |
| Contract (Bsquared Network) | 0x7092...ce39 |
| Contract (Celo) | 0xd072...2ae0 |
| Contract (Core) | 0x3902...2d0b |
| Contract (Lisk) | 0x7105...018f |
| Contract (Corn) | 0x7311...fcd2 |
| Contract (Cronos) | 0x8c80...ac85 |
| Contract (Cronos Zkevm) | 0x6117...667e |
| Contract (Etherlink) | 0x8ce7...6cc3 |
| Contract (Fraxtal) | 0xd6a6...a940 |
| Contract (Sei V2) | 0x7105...018f |
| Contract (Katana) | 0xc2c4...27b6 |
| Contract (Hemi) | 0x63db...4bc8 |
| Contract (Hyperevm) | 0x1ac2...de59 |
| Contract (Ink) | 0x7105...018f |
| Contract (Kroma) | 0xc1f6...f450 |
| Contract (Hedera Hashgraph) | 0x7ce6...3a98 |
| Contract (Zircuit) | 0xdee9...2ccd |
| Contract (Solana) | LinkhB...Q23L |
| Contract (Osmosis) | ibc/D3...0049 |
| Contract (Hashkey Chain) | 0x7105...018f |
| Contract (Plasma) | 0x76a4...eb40 |
| Contract (Harmony Shard 0) | 0x2185...98aa |
| Contract (Energi) | 0x68ca...4008 |
| Contract (Sora) | 0x0084...205a |
| Contract (Milkomeda Cardano) | 0xf390...cbc2 |
| Contract (Polygon Pos) | 0x53e0...ad39 |
| Contract (Binance Smart Chain) | 0xf8a0...51bd |
| Contract (Arbitrum One) | 0xf97f...9fb4 |
| Contract (Blast) | 0x9320...9013 |
| Contract (World Chain) | 0x915b...5473 |
| Contract (Starknet) | 0x60f4...0ee9 |
| Contract (Optimistic Ethereum) | 0x350a...a7f6 |
| Contract (Zksync) | 0x5286...b534 |
| Contract (Avalanche) | 0x5947...27a3 |
How Chainlink Works
A blockchain cannot read an API, market price, or external event by itself. A decentralized oracle network (DON) coordinates nodes that perform tasks such as retrieving data, computing results, reaching consensus, or delivering outputs to applications. Architecture and decentralization vary by service and configuration; using an oracle does not make off-chain data inherently true.
Main Services
- Data Feeds: aggregated data read by on-chain applications, including price references.
- Automation: nodes perform triggers or scheduled tasks for smart contracts under configured conditions.
- VRF: produces verifiable randomness for applications such as games and NFTs.
- CCIP: a cross-chain messaging standard for sending data and, through supported token pools, transferring tokens. Support and security depend on the network and integration.
LINK’s Role
LINK is used in the network’s economics, including payments for oracle services and staking to support the economic security of certain services. Chainlink Payment Abstraction can let services accept assets other than LINK and convert them through supported mechanisms. As a result, an application’s end user does not always need to buy or hold LINK to interact with a dApp that uses Chainlink.
Chainlink Staking v0.2 is a specific program with its own terms, supported network, capacity, and slashing conditions; it is not open-ended staking for every LINK holder. Check the official rules before sending tokens to a staking contract.
Risks and Limits
- Oracle risk: delayed data, a faulty source, or unsuitable configuration can affect a smart contract’s decisions.
- Decentralization varies: operator counts, data sources, and consensus mechanisms depend on the selected feed or DON.
- Cross-chain risk: CCIP and other integrations rely on network configuration, token pools, and the security mechanisms in use.
- Token linkage: service use, revenue, and LINK’s market price are distinct; service adoption does not automatically guarantee token appreciation.
Common Misconceptions
“Chainlink is a blockchain.” Chainlink provides oracle and computation services that can connect many blockchains to external systems.
“Every dApp must directly use LINK.” Payment needs differ by service; payment abstraction can hide LINK-related steps from an end user.
“Oracles make external data risk-free.” A DON can reduce reliance on a single operator, but security still depends on service design, data sources, networks, and application integration.
Social Media Sentiment
A recent r/Chainlink post about the CCIP 2.0 launch highlighted new cross-chain capabilities and the launch material’s security claims. It is one community post repeating the project’s framing, not an independent assessment or a view of all LINK holders; the technical docs are needed to evaluate the capabilities and risks.
Last updated: 2026-10
Related Terms
See Also
- Chainlink Decentralized Data Model
- Chainlink CCIP Documentation
- Chainlink Staking Documentation
- Swap crypto with ChangeNOW
Sources
- Chainlink Docs, Decentralized Data Model — describes DON components, node operators, aggregation, and data consumers.
- Chainlink Docs, CCIP Overview — explains CCIP as a cross-chain messaging protocol and documents its supported paths.
- Chainlink Economics, Staking v0.2 — sets out staking’s purpose, supported network, and specific security conditions.
- Chainlink, FAQs — defines the oracle network and describes payment abstraction and off-chain computation.
- Chainlink Docs, LINK Token Contracts — lists official token addresses by network and distinguishes the Monad Mainnet LINK token from the testnet contract.
- CoinGecko, LINK market data — provides the market snapshot, supply, and all-time-high figures used in the table.
- r/Chainlink, CCIP 2.0 launch post — one community post used for limited social context.