Standard Chartered sees potential for LINK to rise to $200: a bet on asset tokenization
Standard Chartered's analytical department has presented an ambitious forecast for Chainlink's native token (LINK), estimating its fair value at $200 by the end of 2030. This implies nearly a 25-fold increase from current levels, which hover around $8. At the core of this optimistic scenario is Chainlink's positioning as critical infrastructure for the tokenized real-world assets (RWA) market.
Geoff Kendrick, the bank's head of digital asset research, emphasizes the protocol's uniqueness. In his view, Chainlink is the only end-to-end platform capable of supporting the full lifecycle of tokenized assets, integrating both decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional financial institutions. As real-world assets transition to on-chain formats, the market will require reliable oracles for external data, secure cross-chain bridges, and compliance tools—precisely the niches that Chainlink fills.
The forecast is accompanied by expectations of proportional growth in network fee revenue. Standard Chartered projects that Chainlink's fee generation will increase approximately 25-fold by the end of the decade. The list of network service users includes giants such as SWIFT, DTCC, Euroclear, JPMorgan, Mastercard, UBS, Fidelity, and S&P Global, confirming the protocol's deep penetration into the traditional financial ecosystem.
However, Kendrick does not overlook the risks that could hinder the realization of this scenario. Among the key threats, he highlights:
- A slowdown in the pace of institutional tokenization, which could delay a massive influx of capital;
- Increased competition from specialized providers that could capture individual market segments;
- Technical or configuration failures that could undermine trust in the platform and its reputation.
The context for such a forecast looks favorable. Based on my calculations using CoinShares data, the volume of RWAs on lending platforms and decentralized exchanges reached $7.4 billion in the second quarter, more than triple the figure from last year ($2.3 billion). This confirms the accelerating trend toward tokenization, but it is worth remembering that such long-term targets are often strategic in nature and depend on macroeconomic conditions. Realizing the forecast will require not only technological superiority but also an impeccable reputation amid intense competition.