Latest Chainlink (LINK) News Update

By CMC AI
22 February 2026 12:20AM (UTC+0)

What is the latest news on LINK?

TLDR

Chainlink is earning institutional stripes while trading at a discount. Here are the latest news:

  1. Bitwise CIO Names LINK a "Mount Rushmore" Asset (21 February 2026) – Chainlink is highlighted as essential infrastructure for tokenization alongside BTC, ETH, and SOL.

  2. Major Altcoins Flash Undervalued Signals (21 February 2026) – LINK's 30-day MVRV score of -5.1% suggests it's trading below average trader cost basis.

Deep Dive

Overview: Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan named Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Chainlink as the four must-own crypto assets for this cycle. He justified LINK's inclusion due to its dominant role as oracle infrastructure, which he sees as critical if the multi-trillion-dollar tokenization of equities, bonds, and real estate materializes. What this means: This is bullish for LINK as it represents a significant institutional endorsement, framing it not as a speculative altcoin but as foundational, revenue-generating infrastructure for the future of finance. (CoinMarketCap)

2. Major Altcoins Flash Undervalued Signals (21 February 2026)

Overview: Santiment data shows major blue-chip cryptocurrencies are trading with negative 30-day Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) ratios, indicating undervaluation. Ethereum leads at -14.3%, with Chainlink third at -5.1%. This metric compares the current market cap to the aggregate cost basis of all tokens, with negative values suggesting average holders are at a loss. What this means: This is neutral-to-bullish for LINK, as historically deep negative MVRV readings can precede relief rallies by reducing sell pressure from underwater holders, though it doesn't guarantee an immediate price surge. (CoinMarketCap)

Conclusion

Chainlink is solidifying its reputation as critical Web3 infrastructure among institutions, yet its price action suggests the market has yet to fully price in this strategic position. Will sustained ETF inflows be the catalyst that closes this valuation gap?

What are people saying about LINK?

TLDR

LINK's social vibe is a quiet powerhouse, with chatter split between its deep institutional roots and shallow price action. Here’s what’s trending:

  1. Analysts debate a critical technical breakout above $12.03 for a potential run to $15.

  2. A major on-chain reserve is steadily accumulating LINK, signaling long-term confidence.

  3. Sentiment data shows a contrarian bullish signal as the crowd turns bearish.

  4. LINK is highlighted among crypto's elite "Mount Rushmore" assets by a top CIO.

  5. Whispers of secret rewards for early users are circulating, though details are scarce.

Deep Dive

1. @Clytheronix: Eyeing a Breakout Above Key Resistance bullish

"$LINK remains in a recovery phase... a break above $14.50–$15 could target the next resistance near $17–$18." – @Clytheronix (3.5K followers · Jan 15, 2026 10:42 PM UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for LINK because a sustained move above the $14.50–$15.00 resistance zone would confirm a shift in market structure, potentially inviting momentum buyers and targeting higher price levels.

"Chainlink Reserve holds 2.17 million LINK, converting enterprise... revenue into token accumulation through transparent, time-locked smart contracts." – @HeadingWhere (40K followers · Feb 20, 2026 12:48 PM UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for LINK because it represents a consistent, protocol-driven buy pressure that reduces circulating supply and demonstrates utility-based value accrual, independent of speculative trading.

3. @MarketProphit: Crowd Sentiment Turns Bearish, Model Bullish bullish

"$LINK Sentiment: CROWD = Bearish 🟥 MP = Bullish 🟩" – @MarketProphit (71.4K followers · Dec 28, 2025 03:30 PM UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for LINK from a contrarian standpoint, as extreme bearish crowd sentiment often precedes price rebounds when juxtaposed against a bullish proprietary model signal.

4. @coingape: Named to Crypto's "Mount Rushmore" by Bitwise CIO bullish

"Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan named Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Chainlink as the 'Mount Rushmore' of crypto assets." – Coingape (Publication · Feb 21, 2026 04:27 PM UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for LINK as it reinforces its status as essential, institutional-grade infrastructure, which can drive long-term investor allocation and narrative strength.

5. @thordonmeme: Rumors of Retroactive Rewards for Users mixed

"Chainlink is quietly hooking up past users with some rewards... I've seen claims ranging from $500 to $15,000." – @thordonmeme (72K followers · Feb 8, 2026 01:42 PM UTC) View original post What this means: This is neutral for LINK as unverified rumors can create short-term social buzz, but without official confirmation or material impact on network fundamentals, the effect on price is uncertain.

Conclusion

The consensus on LINK is cautiously bullish, underpinned by strong fundamentals and institutional adoption clashing with weak price performance. The dominant narrative celebrates its indispensable oracle role and growing enterprise revenue, while traders watch for a technical spark. Monitor the weekly inflow rate into the Chainlink Reserve as a tangible metric of network utility translating into buy-side pressure.

What is the latest update in LINK’s codebase?

TLDR

Chainlink's node software receives regular updates, enhancing performance and security.

  1. Chainlink Node v2.31.0 (11 Dec 2025) – Latest core software release for node operators, ensuring network reliability.

  2. Chainlink Node v2.30.0 (17 Nov 2025) – Preceding update focused on stability and backend improvements.

  3. Chainlink Node v2.29.0 (22 Oct 2025) – Update that introduced optimizations for data feed operations.

Deep Dive

Overview: This is the most recent version of the software that powers Chainlink's decentralized oracle nodes. For everyday users, it means the network that secures DeFi protocols and cross-chain applications runs more smoothly and reliably.

The release continues Chainlink's consistent development cadence, focusing on under-the-hood enhancements. Regular updates like this are crucial for maintaining the network's high uptime and security standards, which are foundational for the billions in value it secures.

What this means: This is bullish for LINK because it demonstrates active maintenance and improvement of the core infrastructure. A robust and updated network is more attractive to developers and institutions building critical financial applications, which drives long-term demand for Chainlink's services. (Source)

Overview: This update preceded v2.31.0, focusing on refining node operations. For the ecosystem, it contributes to the overall resilience and efficiency of data delivery to smart contracts.

Such releases typically include bug fixes, performance tweaks, and updates to dependencies. This ongoing work ensures node operators can provide accurate data feeds with minimal downtime, which is essential for protocols relying on real-time price information.

What this means: This is neutral to bullish for LINK. It shows a commitment to incremental progress and network health. While not a flashy new feature, consistent stability updates reduce operational risks and build trust in the oracle network as a whole. (Source)

Overview: This release laid groundwork for later improvements, optimizing how nodes fetch and process external data. End-users benefit from more reliable oracle services across thousands of DeFi applications.

Technical optimizations at this level help scale the network's capacity to handle more data requests and support integrations with new blockchains, which is critical for Chainlink's expansion into tokenized real-world assets.

What this means: This is bullish for LINK because it directly supports network scalability. As more assets and financial activity move on-chain, a performant and scalable oracle layer becomes increasingly valuable, strengthening LINK's utility as the network's native token. (Source)

Conclusion

Chainlink's development trajectory is defined by steady, iterative improvements to its core node software, prioritizing network reliability and scalability. How will this foundation of technical diligence support its growing role in institutional finance and cross-chain interoperability?

What is next on LINK’s roadmap?

TLDR

Chainlink's development continues with these milestones:

  1. CCIP v1.5 Mainnet Launch (Upon Audit Completion) – A major upgrade enabling self-service token integration and support for zkRollups.

  2. Data Streams Expansion to More Chains & Assets (Ongoing) – Scaling the low-latency oracle solution to new blockchains and real-world asset markets.

  3. Chainlink Reserve Accumulation & Transparency (Ongoing) – Converting network revenue into LINK holdings, reducing circulating supply.

Deep Dive

1. CCIP v1.5 Mainnet Launch (Upon Audit Completion)

Overview: The Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) is slated for a v1.5 upgrade. This release, pending security audits, will allow token issuers to integrate their assets with CCIP in a self-serve manner and take ownership of token pool contracts. It will also extend support to EVM-compatible zkRollups, significantly broadening its interoperability reach (Chainlink).

What this means: This is bullish for LINK because it lowers barriers for new token integrations, potentially accelerating CCIP adoption and transaction volume. It also positions Chainlink at the core of the growing modular blockchain and rollup ecosystem.

2. Data Streams Expansion to More Chains & Assets (Ongoing)

Overview: Data Streams, Chainlink's low-latency oracle solution, is actively expanding. The focus is on onboarding more protocols to mainnet under sustainable revenue-share agreements and extending support to additional blockchains. A key initiative is rapidly expanding into markets for real-world assets (RWAs) and assets traded primarily on decentralized exchanges.

What this means: This is bullish for LINK because each new integration and supported asset class directly increases demand for Chainlink's oracle services and generates fee revenue. Success in the RWA sector could tap into a multi-trillion dollar market opportunity.

Overview: The Chainlink Reserve is a transparent, on-chain smart contract that automatically converts network revenue—from both enterprise deals and on-chain fees—into LINK tokens. As of February 19, 2026, it held over 2.17 million LINK, with weekly inflows growing 7x since its launch (BSC News).

What this means: This is bullish for LINK because it creates a structural, protocol-level buyer that reduces sell pressure from revenue. The growing holdings and public transparency aim to strengthen long-term token economics and investor confidence.

Conclusion

Chainlink's immediate roadmap focuses on scaling its core infrastructure—making cross-chain communication more accessible, broadening its data oracle footprint, and reinforcing its token economy through systematic accumulation. How will the growth of real-world asset tokenization specifically accelerate demand for Chainlink's verified data feeds?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.