Chainlink's LINK token hit $14.89 in late September, its highest price of 2026, as whale wallets added over 2.5 million LINK in ten days while small holders trimmed their positions. The rally lands alongside a new Infosys partnership, the CCIP 2.0 launch, and continued growth in Chainlink's strategic reserve.
LINK touched $14.89 in late September, marking its highest price of 2026 and a recovery from levels below $13 earlier in the month. Whale wallets added more than 2.5 million LINK over a ten-day window, even as small-holder addresses quietly reduced their positions.
Whales buy as small holders sell
The $14.89 peak appears to have been an intraday spike. Daily highs on September 26 and 27 landed between $14.488 and $14.50, with trading activity stabilizing in the $14.00 to $14.50 range by month's end.
That price action split retail and institutional flows in opposite directions, with small holders reducing positions as whales accumulated.
Infosys deal and CCIP 2.0 widen institutional reach
Chainlink partnered with Infosys, one of the world's largest IT services companies, to integrate its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol across banking and payment platforms. The deal is designed to enhance capabilities for over 600 banks.
The project also launched CCIP 2.0 in September, an upgrade that enables smoother asset transfers between public and private blockchain environments. That launch has drawn endorsements from ANZ and Fidelity International.
Reserve grows, but $15 remains the test
Chainlink's strategic reserve added 373,791 LINK during September. That brings total holdings to approximately 6.05 million LINK, worth roughly $90 million at current prices.
The $15 level still looms as both a psychological and technical barrier, since LINK hasn't traded above it consistently in quite some time. Trading volume rose alongside the September rally, and a push back toward $14.89 on declining volume would suggest the momentum is fading.
Source: Crypto Briefing
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