LINK Stuck Below $15 as Whales Accumulate and Retail Stalls, CryptoQuant Reports

According to a new report by CryptoQuant, Chainlink (LINK) is locked in a prolonged accumulation phase between $12 and $15, driven by aggressive whale behavior amid muted retail participation.

The blockchain data firm points to a sustained exchange netflow of approximately -100,000 LINK per week, signaling continuous outflows as large holders withdraw tokens while retail investors remain disengaged.

Whale Activity Dominates as Retail Interest Stagnates

Despite growing utility in the oracle sector, retail metrics have remained flat since the minor activity uptick in Q4 2024. Daily active addresses hover between 28,000 and 32,000, while transactions average just 9,000 per day—a level that has failed to grow even as LINK’s role in decentralized data continues to expand.

Meanwhile, whale behavior tells a different story. Exchange withdrawals surged in late 2024, peaking at over 3,000 transactions per day, and have remained elevated throughout 2025. This suggests that whales are methodically absorbing sell pressure, converting retail exits into long-term accumulation without triggering sharp volatility.

CryptoQuant notes that neutral leverage metrics have allowed this quiet build-up to continue without destabilizing price action.

Exchange Reserves Plummet, But Breakout Needs Retail Trigger

The report also highlights that LINK’s exchange reserves have declined roughly 40% year-to-date, tightening available supply. Yet, without renewed retail demand, upside momentum remains capped at the key $15 resistance level.

READ MORE:

Solana Staking ETF Ranks in Top 1% of ETF Launches on Day One

CryptoQuant analysts argue that a decisive breakout will likely require either a spike in retail engagement—through rising active addresses and transaction volume—or a shift in whale behavior. If withdrawing transactions begin to decline and netflows turn positive, the current accumulation trend could reverse, exposing LINK to a potential drop toward $10 support.

For now, the standoff continues, echoing Bitcoin’s 2023 consolidation before its explosive move in 2024. Whether retail returns or whales ease off will determine whether LINK breaks higher—or slips lower.

Kosta Gushterov

Kosta has been working in the crypto industry for over 4 years. He strives to present different perspectives on a given topic and enjoys the sector for its transparency and dynamism. In his work, he focuses on balanced coverage of events and developments in the crypto space, providing information to his readers from a neutral perspective.