Chainlink’s native token, LINK, has experienced a decline of 2% in early afternoon trading, with the price hovering around $12.10 on December 23, 2025. This downward trend has been evident over the past week, month, and year, leading to speculation of a bearish outlook as 2026 approaches. Currently, the token is precariously positioned above critical support levels at $12 and $10, despite the network’s notable strides in adoption.
In 2025, Chainlink achieved significant milestones that bolstered its role within the blockchain ecosystem. The project formed key partnerships with major players in both cryptocurrency and traditional finance, such as Coinbase, Swift, and the US Department of Commerce. These collaborations not only enhance Chainlink’s integration capabilities but also serve to connect decentralized technologies with established financial systems. Coinbase, as a leading US-based cryptocurrency exchange, has utilized Chainlink for cross-chain interoperability. Meanwhile, the partnership with Swift marks a pivotal move towards integrating traditional finance with decentralized platforms. Additionally, the US Department of Commerce selected Chainlink, alongside Pyth Network, to facilitate the implementation of macroeconomic data on-chain, coinciding with Chainlink surpassing a total value secured of over $100 billion.
Recent updates posted on X highlighted Chainlink’s rapid adoption, showcasing 12 integrations across 10 different blockchain networks in just one week leading to December 20, 2025. This momentum included efforts within the BNB Chain and Solana ecosystems. The increases in adoption span various products in Chainlink’s suite, including CCIP, CRE, DataLink, and Price Feeds.
Despite these achievements, the performance of Chainlink’s price has not mirrored its growth trajectory. Although there was a boost in sentiment following the introduction of a digital asset treasury known as the LINK reserve and rising expectations surrounding exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the token’s price has struggled to sustain any meaningful recovery. After encountering a significant resistance level around $26.70 in August, LINK has seen its value decline by 45% over the past year. Analysts are increasingly concerned that the fundamental strengths of the project aren’t translating into price appreciation.
Currently, LINK stands on the brink of critical support levels, with a potential breach of the $12 threshold looming. This price level holds psychological significance, especially given its context from the previous August. Analysts attribute LINK’s struggles to broader macroeconomic challenges that have affected risk assets as a whole, alongside profit-taking behavior that has hindered recovery efforts. Market watchers observe that the sluggish price movement, despite adoption milestones, reflects investor apprehension.
For bullish traders, maintaining support above $12 could provide a pathway to target rebounds at $15 and then $20 in the short term, particularly if gains coincide with a broader market uplift. Conversely, if selling pressure persists into the year’s end, the price of LINK risks retracing to demand zones as low as $8.5.
