Chainlink Co-Founder Explains Why Crypto Has Matured Beyond FTX-Era Risks

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Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov said that real-world assets (RWAs) on-chain will eventually surpass cryptocurrency in total value across the industry.

The statement came as LINK trades near $8.58, with a market cap of $6 billion, down over 83% from its all-time high.

No Systemic Failures This Cycle

Nazarov pointed to two key signals from the current market cycle. First, no major institutional collapses have happened despite heavy price drops. Unlike the last cycle, where FTX and multiple lenders blew up, the system held together this time.

Second, RWA activity continues to grow regardless of where Bitcoin’s price sits.

“We have seen RWA issuance continue to grow and we’ve seen leading on-chain perp markets rival tradfi perp markets for very traditional commodities like silver,” Nazarov said.

RWA Growth No Longer Tied to Crypto Prices

Nazarov explained that tokenized assets, stablecoin proof of reserves, and on-chain fund NAVs are all expanding on their own, separate from broader crypto market conditions.

He called this “unique and durable long-term value” that can grow regardless of market pricing.

He placed Chainlink at the center of this shift, pointing to its 70%+ market share in delivering data to leading blockchains. The platform also recently launched partnerships with institutional data providers like S&P and ICE.

Chainlink’s infrastructure covers three core functions: data delivery, cross-chain connectivity for liquidity, and orchestration through its Chainlink Runtime Environment (CRE), which coordinates multiple systems into single workflows.

LINK Holders Ask: Where’s the Price Action?

The community response was mixed.

One user argued that RWA growth is “bullish for the industry but potentially bearish for the speculative culture that funded it,” warning that retail investors could become less relevant as institutional money takes over.

Others raised a more direct concern. LINK is trading under $10 in 2026, sitting roughly 20% above 2023 bear market lows. One holder asked what all the partnerships and integrations are “worth in the end” when the token price has not reflected the progress.

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• Also Read :
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Nazarov maintained that institutional adoption driven by RWA infrastructure will define the next stage of crypto’s growth. Whether that demand reaches LINK’s valuation remains the open question.

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