$USDC Chainlink solves this by employing a network of independent "oracle" nodes. When a smart contract needs external data (e.g., a stock price, weather conditions, or election results), it requests it from the Chainlink network. These decentralized nodes fetch the data from various off-chain sources, aggregate it, and deliver it to the smart contract in a secure and tamper-proof manner. The LINK token incentivizes node operators for providing accurate data and is used to pay for these oracle services, making Chainlink a vital infrastructure for DeFi, NFTs, and other blockchain applications.