Chainlink Price Prediction: LINK Protocol Upgrade and Increased Whale Activity, 3 Catalysts That May Drive Challenge to Historical Highs

Chainlink (LINK) has gained momentum once again, which is reflected not only in its price. This month, the project has become the core of some significant advancements in the Crypto Assets and financial sectors. From major policy moments to Depth protocol upgrades and increased Whale activity, there is growing evidence that LINK's price may be reaching historic highs.

Here are 3 key catalysts that analysts and investors are closely watching for Chainlink this cycle:

1. The Role of Chainlink in U.S. Crypto Policy and Tokenization Standards

On July 18, Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov appeared at the White House, standing alongside President Trump, to sign the GENIUS Act, which aims to build digital asset infrastructure and regulate stablecoins.

According to a post by Chainlink on X, the team has been working behind the scenes for some time, closely collaborating with lawmakers, regulators, and other officials to help shape crypto policy in the United States.

(Source: X)

In the same week, Chainlink also launched the Automated Compliance Engine (ACE), a tool designed to automatically handle regulatory checks for cross-chain assets. This move is expected to make it easier for institutions to engage in on-chain finance without worrying about compliance barriers.

This could play an important role in the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA), especially when institutions seek compliant ways to adopt on-chain finance.

Looking ahead, according to a report by CryptoFrontNews, the integration of CCIP (Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol) with institutions such as JPMorgan and Westpac is expected to be launched soon. These integrations will allow LINK to be used as collateral for cross-chain settlements, thus enhancing its utility in crypto-native systems and institutional systems.

2. Whale Accumulation and Strong On-Chain Indicators

Large holders have been aggressively accumulating LINK tokens. Since late June, whale holders have accumulated over 8 million LINK tokens, worth approximately $150 million, bringing the total amount held by whales to 175.91 million.

Data from NewsBTC also shows that the reserves of LINK on the exchange have fallen to historic lows, with a net outflow of 21.8 million dollars in July alone.

Investor confidence seems to be strengthening. About 77% of LINK holders have held for more than a year, indicating low short-term selling pressure, and most wallets are preparing for long-term gains.

3. Achieving Global Adoption through Real-World Use Cases

The real-world integration of Chainlink is rapidly expanding. One of Australia’s largest banks, Westpac, announced that it will use Chainlink in the Acacia project conducted in conjunction with the Reserve Bank of Australia. Through this project, Chainlink's technology will provide DvP (Delivery versus Payment) settlement support for tokenized assets across blockchain and traditional payment systems.

According to the Westpac Banking Corporation and the Australian Trust and Company (DFCRC), tokenization can save up to 1.2 billion AUD annually in the Australian market alone. By improving the efficiency, security, and compliance of asset settlement, Chainlink is helping to shape the way institutional capital flows on the chain.

What changes will happen to the LINK price?

The all-time high price of Chainlink is slightly above 52 USD. Considering everything that has happened recently, some traders believe that this target may return to the market.

If the adoption rate continues to rise, especially with large companies like JPMorgan and Westpac now joining in, there are rumors that the price of LINK could climb to 70 dollars or even higher this cycle.

Currently, LINK still has a lot of room for growth. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is quite high, so a short-term pullback is not surprising. However, with all the new partnerships, government endorsements, and the push for real-world asset tokenization, LINK seems to be in a strong position. If the market maintains a bullish momentum, it could become one of the most noteworthy projects.