Crypto Legal Expert: LINK Should Target Cardano Before XRP for Maximum Impact

Chainlink's oracle dominance faces its next strategic conquest—and legal minds are mapping the battlefield.

Target Acquisition: Cardano First

Legal analysts argue LINK should set sights on Cardano's ecosystem before attempting to overtake XRP. The reasoning? Cardano's growing smart contract infrastructure presents more immediate utility gaps for oracle services to fill—while XRP's legal clarity remains a moving target.

Market Mechanics Over Hype

Forget tribal allegiances. This isn't about fanboy wars—it's pure market strategy. Chainlink's real-world data feeds could become the backbone of Cardano's DeFi expansion, creating symbiotic growth before taking on payment-focused networks. Meanwhile, XRP's regulatory limbo makes timing unpredictable—because nothing says 'stable investment' like ongoing SEC litigation.

The Oracle Playbook

Active integration beats passive speculation. LINK's value proposition hinges on actual usage, not speculative pumps. Prioritizing Cardano's developing ecosystem allows concrete partnerships to form while XRP's legal drama plays out in slow motion—because who doesn't love watching lawyers bill hours instead of tokens gaining utility?

Bottom line: In the ruthless calculus of crypto dominance, sometimes the smarter play is bypassing the headline-grabber for the actual infrastructure builder. Even if it means delaying the inevitable showdown with the perpetual 'next big thing'.

TLDR

• A crypto legal expert advised that LINK should aim to surpass Cardano rather than XRP.
• XRP’s market capitalization remains ten times larger than LINK’s current valuation.
• Tidal Trust II has applied for XRP ETFs which signals strong institutional interest in XRP.
• LINK has secured over $93 billion in DeFi value and surpassed XRP in Google search trends.
• LINK’s market cap is much closer to Cardano’s making ADA a more realistic target for flipping.

The rivalry between LINK and XRP has resurfaced, but experts now suggest a more realistic target for Chainlink. Attorney Bill Morgan advised LINK proponents to pivot toward overtaking Cardano instead. He noted that ADA’s market cap presents a closer and more achievable milestone than XRP.

XRP’s Valuation and Institutional Growth

XRP currently holds a market capitalization of $172.5 billion, far ahead of LINK’s $17.32 billion. Despite LINK’s growth, the gap remains wide, making a flippening of XRP unlikely in the NEAR term. Morgan stated,

“LINK is better off targeting ADA, which is only $14 billion ahead in market cap.”

Meanwhile, sophisticated players such as Tidal Trust II are applying today for XRP ETFs with a leverage strategy that even includes directly investing in other XRP ETPs.

I think you should more focus on flipping ADA which is $13 billion away in market cap. https://t.co/ZIiaslTe7p pic.twitter.com/PLS05o7MzJ

— bill morgan (@Belisarius2020) August 20, 2025

Tidal Trust II recently applied for multiple XRP ETF offerings, indicating institutional interest in XRP’s long-term value. These applications suggest growing institutional recognition and long-term planning around XRP. This includes proposed Leveraged funds that would invest in XRP-related exchange-traded products.

Moreover, XRP has gained attention through integration into traditional finance systems and treasury strategies. Ripple’s partnerships continue to support adoption across global markets. Although LINK has traction in DeFi, XRP maintains a stronger market presence and valuation lead.

LINK’s Momentum in Adoption and DeFi

LINK has achieved major adoption milestones, driven by both retail and institutional interest. It recently reached $93 billion in Total Value Secured (TVS), significantly surpassing XRP’s $85 million. This DeFi strength supports LINK’s position as a growing infrastructure layer.

Chainlink has also formed partnerships with institutions such as SWIFT and UBS Asset Management. These collaborations include cross-chain interoperability pilots and tokenized asset tests. Such developments show LINK’s expanding use cases beyond its traditional oracle role.

Google Trends data shows that LINK overtook XRP in July 2025, scoring 100 against XRP’s 11. This signals growing interest and visibility for LINK across global audiences.

Market Perspective: LINK vs ADA as the Real Battle

LINK’s market capitalization remains closer to ADA’s $31.11 billion, making cardano a more realistic rival. Bill Morgan emphasized,

“LINK’s focus on flipping ADA is grounded in achievable market dynamics.”

LINK currently holds 55% of ADA’s market cap and continues to grow.

Community sentiment within the LINK ecosystem shows confidence in surpassing ADA’s valuation. Advocates point to LINK’s growing presence in institutional finance and DeFi markets. At the same time, Cardano continues to expand its own ecosystem and developer activity.