link

An unidentified entity has quietly accumulated nearly 100 million LINK tokens — close to 10% of Chainlink’s total supply — through a coordinated network of 48 wallets exhibiting nearly identical behavior, according to findings shared by an on-chain data analyst on X.
The discovery has sparked widespread attention across the crypto community, not only due to the sheer scale of the accumulation but also because of the remarkable sophistication of the strategy, which appears to have avoided triggering major price volatility over several months.
A Network of 48 Wallets With Near-Identical Behavior
An analysis of the top 100 LINK-holding wallets revealed an unusual cluster. Each wallet holds approximately 2 million LINK and contains almost no other assets.
What initially appeared to be fewer than 10 similar wallets expanded into a much larger pattern upon deeper investigation. In total, 48 wallets were identified with the following shared characteristics:
Nearly identical LINK balances
Wallets created within a narrow time window between August and November 2025
LINK purchases sourced almost exclusively from the same Coinbase hot wallet
Highly synchronized buying behavior
Heatmap analysis of transaction activity shows that these wallets consistently purchased LINK on the same days and in similar amounts. While minor differences existed during the early phase, the wallets later converged into a uniform monthly accumulation rhythm, a strong signal that they are likely controlled by a single entity.
The total amount accumulated is estimated at ~100 million LINK, acquired gradually between August 2025 and January 2026.
Why Didn’t LINK’s Price React Sharply?
Under normal circumstances, the acquisition of nearly 10% of a token’s supply would be expected to cause significant price movement. However, LINK’s price did not experience extreme spikes during this period.
The likely explanation lies in a carefully designed “stealth accumulation” strategy:
Transactions were split across dozens of wallets
Purchases were fragmented into smaller sizes
Buying activity was concentrated during periods of exceptionally high market liquidity
A key moment occurred around the market-wide crash on October 10, 2025, when infrastructure issues and forced liquidations caused liquidity across exchanges to surge. In the weeks that followed, exchanges gradually released inventory back into the market during October and November — creating ideal conditions for a large buyer to absorb supply without pushing prices higher.
Notably, 39 of the 48 wallets were created during these two high-liquidity months.
Exchange Outflows Strengthen the Accumulation Thesis
On-chain flow data shows a sharp decline in LINK balances held on exchanges during October–November 2025. The timing aligns closely with the emergence of the new wallets and the start of their accumulation cycles, with each wallet absorbing roughly 2 million LINK.
This overlap reinforces the theory that a substantial portion of LINK’s circulating supply was withdrawn from exchanges and moved into long-term custody, rather than being traded actively.
Who Could Be Behind It?
The scale and coordination involved make it highly unlikely that this is the work of a retail investor. 100 million LINK represents over $1 billion in value, a figure far beyond the reach of most individuals — especially when concentrated in a single asset.
Several potential candidates are frequently discussed:
Chainlink Labs
This scenario appears unlikely. Chainlink Labs already controls approximately 300 million non-circulating LINK, which are publicly labeled and accounted for under known release schedules.
Chainlink has also publicly announced a $1 million-per-week LINK purchase program. Quietly accumulating nearly $1 billion worth of LINK over six months would contradict the transparency of such an initiative.
That said, the accumulation began on August 11, 2025 — just four days after the announcement of Chainlink Reserve — which may have signaled long-term confidence to external institutional players.
BlackRock
This is considered one of the more plausible hypotheses. With over $14 trillion in assets under management, BlackRock has repeatedly stated that tokenization represents the future of financial markets.
Its BUIDL tokenized fund, now exceeding $3 billion, relies heavily on Chainlink services such as CCIP, Proof of Reserves, and price oracles. Holding 100 million LINK would provide strategic exposure to the infrastructure layer underpinning tokenized finance.
Relative to BlackRock’s size, such an allocation would be small — yet strategically meaningful. Accumulating quietly would also make sense, as public involvement at scale could drive prices sharply higher before a position is established.
JPMorgan
Another notable possibility. JPMorgan, through its expanding blockchain division Kinexys (formerly Onyx), has become one of the most active traditional banks in tokenized assets and multi-chain finance.
Many of its initiatives — including tokenized funds, on-chain settlements, and blockchain-based payments in 2025 — rely on Chainlink services such as CCIP, Chainlink Runtime Environment, and oracle infrastructure.
A 100 million LINK reserve would offer JPMorgan strategic positioning in oracle and interoperability infrastructure, reducing dependency risks as tokenized asset flows scale toward trillions of dollars.
Interestingly, the accumulation intensified around the October 10 market crash. Just days earlier, JPMorgan had released a cautious report on crypto-related equities amid geopolitical uncertainty. While the crash itself had external causes, the timing has fueled speculation that large institutions may have used heightened volatility to accumulate quietly.
Financial Infrastructure Organizations (DTCC, SWIFT)
This scenario appears less likely. Such entities typically avoid holding large speculative token reserves. Moreover, allowing an unidentified entity to control 10% of LINK’s supply would introduce concentration risks — something systemically important institutions are highly sensitive to.
However, one coincidence stands out: the final wallet was created on November 20, 2025 — just two days before SWIFT rolled out a new ISO 20022-related initiative, in which Chainlink plays a role.
This does not establish causality, but the timing is difficult to ignore. If LINK is expected to play a role in future messaging, settlement, or interoperability infrastructure, securing a large reserve ahead of such milestones could be strategically rational.
A Single Ultra-Wealthy Individual
This is considered extremely unlikely. Deploying over $1 billion into a single digital asset, with this level of coordination and execution precision, strongly suggests institutional-grade expertise and intent, rather than personal speculation.
A Deliberate, Long-Term Strategic Signal
One detail stands out: the accumulated amount is almost exactly 100 million LINK — precisely 10% of total supply. This suggests a deliberately calculated target, not random buying behavior.
Analysts increasingly believe this accumulation reflects preparation for real-world utility, rather than short-term price speculation. No entity accumulates 100 million LINK casually.
If a major institution is indeed behind this move, it could prompt others to seek similar exposure. However, replicating such a prolonged, stealth accumulation under favorable liquidity conditions would be extremely difficult going forward.
Opportunity Comes With Risk
While long-term implications may be constructive, the concentration of 10% of LINK’s supply under a single, unknown entity also raises centralization and market risk concerns. The ultimate impact will depend on how these tokens are used — whether for infrastructure, staking, or future deployment.
The identity of this “silent whale” remains unknown. But the event itself stands as one of the most notable on-chain accumulation patterns in Chainlink’s history, signaling that LINK’s role in future financial infrastructure may be far more strategic than many currently assume.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and represents personal research and analysis. It does not constitute investment advice. Cryptocurrency markets involve significant risk, and readers should conduct their own due diligence before making any financial decisions. The author is not responsible for any investment outcomes.
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