Chainlink (LINK) is entering one of its most interesting technical zones in years, according to prominent crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe, and the setup could position LINK as one of the strongest outperformers heading into 2026.
Van de Poppe describes LINK as a high-beta play compared to Ethereum, meaning that historically, LINK tends to magnify ETH’s moves. If Ethereum resumes its upward trend, the analyst expects LINK to “go up even more,” especially given how quietly the project has been expanding its technological stack in the background.
Key Levels and Market Structure
On the weekly LINK/BTC chart, Van de Poppe highlights a large multi-year accumulation range, with LINK trading near the bottom of its long-term support zone. This area has acted as the pivot point for previous bull cycles, with the chart showing multiple rebounds from this same region.
The resistance level to watch sits at 0.00043889 BTC, the point where a confirmed breakout could signal the beginning of a sustained multi-month uptrend. A move to that level from current prices would represent a 164% run, based on the chart’s measured move projection.
“This is the area to break – once it does, the upwards trend starts,” Van de Poppe noted.
Strong Fundamentals, Weak Retail Attention
While LINK continues to build integrations across major financial institutions, CCIP adoption, and oracle infrastructure for tokenized real-world assets, the analyst points out a surprising disconnect:
- •Institutional interest and adoption are rising
- •Retail social media interest remains near cycle lows
Van de Poppe argues this divergence is historically bullish. When retail is quiet while institutions accumulate, the setup often precedes large upside movements, similar to early 2019 and mid-2020.
The 2026 Outlook
The analyst believes the crypto market is entering a period filled with fresh opportunities after weeks of correction. He expects Ethereum to recover first, with LINK likely to “outperform significantly” once momentum returns to the broader market.
“I think we’re going to get a special 2026,” Van de Poppe said, “and I think LINK will be at the forefront.”
With LINK sitting near major support, volatility compressing, and long-term technical structure aligning with rising institutional adoption, the stage may be set for one of Chainlink’s strongest market phases in years.