My crypto learning journey #10 – Chainlink (LINK)
Founded in 2017 by Sergey Nazarov, Steve Ellis, and Cornell professor Ari Juels, Chainlink was created to solve the oracle problem by securely connecting smart contracts with real-world data and allowing cross-chain compatibility to make things work in the real-world.
✅ As of mid‑2025, circulating supply is about 678 million LINK (≈68% of the 1 billion max supply).
✅ LINK is used to pay oracle node operators for off‑chain data, stake for network security, and access features like Cross‑Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), Verifiable Random Function (VRF), and Proof of Reserve feeds.
✅ Real-world use cases include powering capital markets and regulatory pilots under Singapore’s MAS Project Guardian (with institutions like UBS, ANZ, SBI Digital Markets), as well as securing billions in DeFi and tokenized assets via Data Streams and CCIP.
Analogy: Chainlink is like a trusted messenger and dispatcher—fetching real-world data (like stock prices, weather, or cross-chain signals) and delivering it securely to your smart contracts whenever they need it.