Chainlink rises 12%, Bitwise ETF accumulation pushes LINK toward $12.50 resistance

LINK price and key resistance levels

At the latest reading, LINK traded at $12.06, reflecting a 12.03% increase over the past 24 hours. Chainlink’s 24-hour trading volume stood at $1.04 billion, and its market capitalization reached $9.03 billion. The coin’s price action has caught the market’s attention, with the $12.50 resistance zone now viewed as a critical threshold for a broader shift in trend dynamics.

Continued upward movement hinges on whether LINK can break and consolidate above this level. A decisive push past $12.50 may reinforce positive sentiment, with traders targeting the $20 mark next. If momentum continues to build, the price could even approach $28.

Market participants are closely watching the $12.50 resistance for signs of a sustained reversal, as a breakout at this level could open the door to higher price targets amid renewed institutional interest.

Institutional accumulation through Bitwise ETF

Institutional demand has played a major role in recent LINK strength. Bitwise Asset Management, a firm known for launching multiple cryptocurrency ETFs, has continued to accumulate LINK for its Chainlink product. In a recent transaction, the Bitwise Chainlink ETF acquired 163,379 LINK tokens worth approximately $1.85 million.

Over the span of one week, Bitwise amassed around 727,170 LINK tokens, representing a total value of $5.515 million. The ETF achieved an average entry price of $7.585 per token. With LINK now trading close to $12.06, Bitwise is already sitting on over 50% in unrealized gains from its latest purchases.

Chainlink’s ETF activity from Bitwise has caught the attention of both retail and institutional investors, suggesting that further accumulation could fuel continued bullish momentum.

Bitwise Asset Management is a US-based investment manager specializing in index and thematic products focused on the digital asset market.

Mini dictionary: Bitwise Asset Management, an investment firm specializing in cryptocurrency index funds and thematic ETFs for institutional and retail investors.

Technical outlook and market expectations

The short-term outlook for LINK now depends on its ability to breach and hold above the $12.50 resistance zone. If this level is reclaimed with strong demand and increased trading volume, technical analysts believe a move toward $20 could materialize, and further gains to $28 may come into view with sustained momentum.

Broader interest in blockchain oracle solutions and real-world asset (RWA) networks is also supporting Chainlink’s long-term narrative. The project is recognized for providing decentralized data oracles, which are essential for securely connecting smart contracts to off-chain information.

Mini dictionary: Oracle, a service enabling blockchains and smart contracts to access real-world data such as asset prices, events, and off-chain information in a secure and decentralized manner.

Market observers are expected to focus on upcoming ETF flows and any technical breakthroughs, as they may offer additional confirmation of Chainlink’s trend development in the sessions ahead.

The next major test for LINK lies at $12.50, with bullish momentum likely to intensify if this barrier is cleared and trading volume remains high.