16.1 million LINK whales enter the market, Chainlink price may迎2026年 key breakthrough

January 21 News, as the crypto market volatility intensifies, Chainlink (LINK) is showing clear accumulation signals in on-chain data. According to latest Santiment statistics, the top 100 whales of Chainlink have resumed buying after LINK fell below $13, accumulating approximately 16.1 million LINK since November 2025, while retail investors have continued to reduce their holdings amid panic. This “whale accumulation, retail exit” pattern often indicates that a price turning point is brewing.

Historical experience shows that when large holders concentrate their positions in key support zones, liquidity and price control gradually shift from short-term traders to long-term capital. Once a key resistance level is broken, it often triggers a rapid surge. Currently, LINK’s on-chain distribution exhibits this characteristic, indicating the market is preparing for the next trend.

From a technical perspective, an analyst pointed out that LINK remains firmly above the 0.618 Fibonacci level at approximately $9.88, which is seen as the core support for a medium-term bullish structure. The potential target ranges are $31, $52, and $100, corresponding to resistance levels in different stages of a bull market. If the price continues to stay above the 0.786 Fibonacci zone, the bullish structure will remain intact, laying the foundation for a larger upward move.

Trading behavior also provides important clues. Since July 2025, the LINK market has been dominated by Taker selling, indicating active selling pressure suppressing the price. However, after 2026, Taker buying has started to gain the upper hand, reflecting that active funds are entering to chase the price. This is often highly related to increased participation from institutions and large investors and can be a sign of a trend reversal.

In the context of macro uncertainties and crypto market volatility, Chainlink continues to attract long-term capital due to its core role in oracle and cross-chain data fields. The whale-level purchase of 16.1 million LINK not only changes the supply-demand structure but also makes “Chainlink price prediction” a renewed market focus. If buying pressure persists and successfully breaks through key resistance zones, the probability of LINK hitting a new high in 2026 is significantly increasing.