Chainlink has seen a notable increase in interest from whale investors recently, largely following its new partnership with the U.S. government. This strategic collaboration is believed to enhance Chainlink’s reputation and potential utility, making it more attractive to large-scale investors.
In contrast, Charles Hoskinson, the co-founder of Cardano, has joined voices with ADA holders in expressing frustration over missed opportunities with LayerZero and Chainlink deals. This sentiment reflects a growing concern within the Cardano community regarding its competitive position in the altcoin market.
As analysts project a possible altseason before year-end, the broader altcoin market appears to be gearing up for a significant rally. Many investors anticipate a major bull run before the end of 2025, particularly as the likelihood of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut on September 17 rises above 85% according to platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. This environment mirrors the bullish trend observed during the end of 2017, when cryptocurrencies surged dramatically.
With this backdrop, capital is expected to rotate into TOTAL3 altcoins, which exclude Ethereum (ETH). As a result, both Cardano (ADA) and Chainlink (LINK) are positioned to potentially benefit from a bullish trend, although they may experience different paces of growth. Both altcoins are considered to have strong fundamentals and remain undervalued relative to their potential.
In exploring which altcoin may possess stronger fundamentals, the data indicates that Chainlink is currently attracting more whale activity. Recent on-chain data analysis has shown a significant uptick in the number of wallets holding Chainlink, suggesting that large investors are increasingly confident in its future prospects.
As the altcoin landscape evolves, questions remain about which of these two prominent altcoins—Cardano or Chainlink—will emerge triumphantly during the anticipated altseason in the fourth quarter of 2025. Investors and analysts alike are keenly watching these developments as market conditions continue to shift.

