LINK to $200 by 2030: Standard Chartered bets on tokenization
Analysts at global bank Standard Chartered have presented an ambitious forecast for Chainlink's native token (LINK), estimating its potential at $200 by the end of 2030. This implies growth of roughly 25 times from current levels, where the asset trades around $8. In my model, I emphasize the fundamental role of Chainlink as critical infrastructure for the tokenized assets (RWA) market, which, in my view, will become one of the main drivers of the next bull cycle.
The bank's head of digital asset research, Geoff Kendrick, calls the protocol the "only end-to-end platform" capable of supporting the full lifecycle of tokenized assets—from issuance to circulation in DeFi and traditional finance. As real-world assets move on-chain, the market will require reliable external oracles, secure cross-chain bridges, and compliance tools. These are the three areas where Chainlink is most effective, and this forms the basis of my positive scenario.
Standard Chartered also expects network fee generation to grow roughly 25-fold by the end of the decade. The list of Chainlink service users includes giants such as SWIFT, DTCC, Euroclear, JPMorgan, Mastercard, UBS, Fidelity, and S&P Global. These are not just clients—they are an institutional foundation that confirms real demand for decentralized infrastructure.
Key risks to the forecast
In my analysis, I highlight three main factors that could disrupt this scenario:
- Slow pace of institutional tokenization — if major players delay adoption, fee growth may fall short of expectations;
- Competition from specialized providers — niche solutions may emerge in certain segments, capturing market share;
- Technical or configuration failures — any network errors could undermine trust in the platform.
It is worth noting that the RWA market is already showing explosive growth: from April to June, the volume of tokenized assets on lending platforms and DEXs reached $7.4 billion, compared to $2.3 billion a year earlier. This confirms that the sector is in the early stages of exponential development.
My comment: The $200 forecast looks ambitious but not fantastical, given the institutional momentum. However, investors should remember that such targets are designed for the long term and do not rule out deep corrections along the way. The key indicator here is the real pace of RWA adoption, not just declarative statements from banks.