Chainlink (LINK) Skyrockets 12% as Mastercard Partnership Fuels Bullish Frenzy

Oracle giant Chainlink just lit a rocket under its price action—LINK surges 12% on news of a strategic Mastercard collab. Traders are piling in as institutional adoption gets another credibility boost.

Why this matters: When legacy finance heavyweights like Mastercard start tapping decentralized oracles, it’s a flashing neon sign for crypto’s infrastructure plays. LINK’s price spike suggests the market agrees—even if the partnership details remain vague enough to make a crypto skeptic roll their eyes.

The rally defies broader market sluggishness, proving that real-world utility still moves needles. Now watch the ‘buy the rumor, sell the news’ crowd start circling.

TLDR

• Chainlink surged 12% over the past week following a partnership announcement with Mastercard on June 24
• 3.86 million LINK tokens worth $51.26 million have left exchanges since June 20, indicating accumulation
• The Mastercard partnership will give 3 billion+ cardholders direct access to crypto through Chainlink’s technology
• Open interest rose 0.4% to $547 million while derivatives volume jumped 51% to $607 million
• LINK currently trades around $13.22-$13.31, holding above the key $13 support level

Chainlink experienced a 12% price increase over the past week, driven by a major partnership announcement with Mastercard and continued exchange outflows.

The rally began following news of Chainlink’s collaboration with Mastercard, which was officially announced on June 24, 2025. The partnership integrates Chainlink’s interoperability technology within the Swapper Finance platform.

We’re excited to announce that chainlink and @Mastercard have partnered to enable billions of cardholders to purchase crypto directly onchain.https://t.co/1pKz03jQ7t

Chainlink verifies and synchronizes key… pic.twitter.com/5jfLAAYn4D

— Chainlink (@chainlink) June 24, 2025

This integration will allow Mastercard’s 3 billion+ cardholders to directly interact with crypto assets on-chain. The partnership represents a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized finance sectors.

The price movement coincided with substantial token outflows from centralized exchanges. Data from analytics firm Sentora shows 3.86 million LINK tokens, valued at over $51 million, have exited exchanges since June 20.

Exchanges have seen uninterrupted net outflows of $LINK since 20 June, with about 3.86 million tokens ($51.26 million) leaving exchanges since then. pic.twitter.com/0n4EnIYZfC

— Sentora (previously IntoTheBlock) (@SentoraHQ) June 30, 2025

Exchange outflows typically indicate investors are moving tokens to self-custody wallets for long-term holding. This reduces the available supply on exchanges, potentially creating upward pressure on prices.

The exchange netflow for Chainlink has remained negative for ten consecutive days through the reporting period. This sustained outflow pattern suggests continued accumulation by investors.

Trading data shows LINK’s 24-hour volume reached $660.69 million, with the token maintaining a market capitalization of $9.02 billion. The price has held above the critical $13 support level despite broader market uncertainty.

Derivatives Market Activity

Open interest in LINK increased 0.4% to $547 million during the recent rally. Derivatives volume surged 51% to $607 million, reflecting growing trader confidence in the token’s prospects.

The sustained outflows occurred alongside the price gains, though the bulk of the rally came in a concentrated burst before cooling off. Despite the price stabilization, token withdrawals from exchanges have continued.

Technical Outlook

LINK currently trades between $13.22 and $13.31, showing slight daily declines of 0.57% to 1% in recent sessions. The token has maintained its position above the $13 support zone throughout the recent volatility.

Analysts suggest a break above $14 resistance could target the $25-$30 range. Conversely, a break below $13 support might lead to testing the $10 level.

If bearish momentum continues past $10, the next potential support lies around $5, which represents a historical accumulation zone during previous market downturns.

The Mastercard partnership positions Chainlink’s technology at the center of mainstream crypto adoption efforts. The collaboration allows traditional payment users to access blockchain-based assets through familiar interfaces.

Bitcoin has also experienced similar exchange outflows recently, according to on-chain analytics data. This broader trend suggests institutional and retail investors are moving assets to self-custody across multiple cryptocurrencies.