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<\/p>\nAccording to crypto market data aggregator Glassnode, Chainlink\u2019s (LINK) token distribution is at record levels of centralization \u2014 with more than 80% of LINK not held on exchanges currently residing in the top 1% of Chainlink wallets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Glassnode\u2019s research found that 81% of LINK not held on crypto exchanges of smart contracts is currently stashed away in 125 wallets, with the number of tokens held by Chainlink\u2019s whales steadily increasing over the past two years.<\/p>\n
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When including the tokens held on exchanges and in smart contracts that Glassnode\u2019s data excluded, the centralization of Chainlink\u2019s token distribution appears extreme \u2014 with Etherscan data indicating that 82.7% of LINK is held by just 100 wallets, or less 0.03% of LINK-holding addresses.<\/p>\n
However, Glassnode estimates that only 12,500 of these addresses are currently active, suggesting nearly 83% of LINK\u2019s supply resides in 0.8% of active wallets.<\/p>\n
Chainlink\u2019s whales appear to have accelerated their accumulation since July 2019, with the share of supply represented by the top 1% of LINK holders steadily increasing from 53% to 81% over the past 18 months.<\/p>\n
With whales continuing to buy despite LINK again rocketing into new all-time highs this month, Glassnode\u2019s Liesl Eichholz concludes \u201cbullish sentiment\u201d remains strong among Chainlink\u2019s veteran traders:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe continued concentration of supply suggests that, even with the available supply increasing, LINK’s top holders are still bullish on the token, and are continuing to acquire more.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
LINK whales are accumulating despite Chainlink\u2019s core team appearing to sell a significant share of their private stash of tokens, with Glassnode identifying 52 million LINK that have moved from the reserve wallets of Chainlink\u2019s team over the past 100 days.<\/p>\n
Chainlink established itself as the most widely used oracle network in 2020, securing partnerships with\u00a0 tech behemoth Google and Ethereum-rival Tezos (XTZ).<\/p>\n
On Jan. 18, Chainlink flipped Bitcoin Cash to become the eighth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. <\/p>\n