TLDR
- Chainlink must reach $286 per token to surpass XRP in total market capitalization.
- XRP currently has a market cap of $194.17 billion compared to Chainlink’s $16.025 billion.
- Chainlink secures $84.65 billion in DeFi value which is far greater than XRP’s $85 million.
- In the past week Chainlink rose 40.67% while XRP gained 9.39%.
- Chainlink’s positive sentiment is at its highest since February with increased whale transactions and active addresses.
Chainlink’s price would need to surge to $286 to surpass XRP in market capitalization. Currently, Chainlink holds a market cap of $16.025 billion, while XRP sits significantly higher at $194.17 billion. Despite their different purposes, comparisons between the two continue to dominate crypto discussions.
Chainlink Rallies Amid DeFi Growth and Institutional Adoption
Chainlink trades at $23.64, with a circulating supply of 678.09 million tokens, ranking 11th in market cap. Its total secured value in decentralized finance has reached $84.65 billion, commanding a 68% DeFi market share. According to Miles Deutscher, “LINK is one of the smarter plays this season” due to its strong adoption.
I hope you've found this thread helpful.
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Also, Like/Repost the quote below if you can. 💙 https://t.co/M5pDQHTGxM
— Miles Deutscher (@milesdeutscher) August 13, 2025
In the past week, Chainlink surged 40.67%, outpacing XRP’s 9.39% growth over the same period. Furthermore, Chainlink activity spiked, with Santiment reporting 6,463 active addresses the highest in eight months. Whale transactions above $100,000 also hit a seven-month high at 4,624, confirming increased interest.
🔗 Chainlink marines are regarding crypto's #11 market cap with the highest level of bullishness since February 1st. On the on-chain side, we're seeing the most active $LINK addresses in 8 months, and most whale transactions in 7 months.
👀 Track it: https://t.co/rR8LtBxl2F pic.twitter.com/rShzH1KcDk
— Santiment (@santimentfeed) August 13, 2025
Positive sentiment around Chainlink is also at a high, with Santiment noting 3.3 bullish comments for every bearish one. Community advocate Zach Rynes claimed, “LINK has become what many thought XRP would be.” He highlighted partnerships with top financial institutions, including Swift.
Despite not being a blockchain, Chainlink connects blockchains with real-world data and banking systems. Rynes noted that XRP once held that narrative but Chainlink is now fulfilling it. Still, both communities maintain that the projects serve different roles and don’t directly compete.
XRP Holds Market Strength but Faces Bearish Sentiment
XRP price trades at $3.27 and has a supply of 59.3 billion tokens, placing it third among cryptocurrencies. Over the last year, XRP rose 424%, while Chainlink only gained 82% in the same period. Since January, XRP is up 56.38% compared to Chainlink’s 18.17% rise.
Despite strong performance, XRP’s community sentiment remains mixed, with some traders expecting Chainlink to surpass it eventually. Analyst Alex Cobb remarked, “XRP is just under its all-time high, yet many traders are bearish.” He emphasized that $3.27 appears to be XRP’s new stable range.
Sentiment on XRP is really weird right now
XRP trading slightly below ATH best performing coin YoY in the top 100
Everyone thinks the price action is shit and that Link is going to replace XRP
I am now truly realizing that $3.00 is the new normal and it’s never going back
— Cobb (@Cobb_XRPL) August 13, 2025
XRP’s total DeFi value locked stands at just $85 million, a fraction of Chainlink’s secured value. Critics argue that comparing the two is misleading because they have different utilities. Yet, the capital disparity has fueled ongoing discussions and intensified competition between communities.
For Chainlink to overtake XRP in valuation, it must grow its market cap by 1,111%. If its circulating supply stays stable, LINK must reach $286. This figure would surpass its 2021 record market cap of $22.8 billion and its previous all-time high price of $53.02.
