Standard Chartered sees LINK potential at $200: key bet on tokenization
My colleagues from Standard Chartered's research division have significantly revised their view on Chainlink. According to the latest analysis, LINK could reach the $200 mark by the end of 2030, implying nearly a 25-fold increase from current levels around $8. This is not just a speculative target — it is based on the protocol's fundamental role in the tokenized assets ecosystem.
The key thesis is that Chainlink is becoming an indispensable infrastructure unit. This is not only about data provision, but also about a comprehensive solution for the entire lifecycle of digital assets — from issuance to circulation in DeFi and traditional finance. The bank's head of digital assets research, Jeff Kendrick, directly calls the protocol the "only end-to-end platform" capable of covering all market needs.
As real-world assets are moved on-chain, the market will require reliable external oracles, secure cross-chain bridges, and compliance tools. This is precisely where Chainlink holds a dominant position. The bank expects network fee generation to grow approximately 25-fold by the end of the decade, with giants such as SWIFT, DTCC, Euroclear, JPMorgan, Mastercard, UBS, Fidelity, and S&P Global already among the protocol's clients.
However, I cannot ignore the stated risks either. Kendrick highlights three main scenarios that could disrupt the forecast: a slowdown in the pace of institutional tokenization, increased competition from specialized providers in individual niches, and technical failures that could undermine trust in the platform. The last point is especially important — in the infrastructure business, reputation is worth more than any technological advantage.
Let me add context: according to my data, the volume of RWA on credit platforms and DEXs has already reached $7.4 billion in the second quarter, three times higher than figures from a year ago. The trend is obvious, but the question is about the pace. If institutions accelerate adoption, $200 could even prove to be a conservative estimate. If the market faces regulatory pauses, however, current levels could persist for a long time. I lean toward the view that LINK's potential is not fully unlocked, but investors should factor volatility and a long waiting horizon into their models.