Standard Chartered says Chainlink (LINK) may become a key winner from the next phase of institutional tokenization, arguing that more real-world assets moving on-chain will create rising demand for secure data, interoperability and compliance infrastructure.
Tokenized Assets Drive The Thesis
In a new research note titled “Chainlink – Owning the rails,” the bank said it expects tokenized assets to grow to $4 trillion by the end of 2028, from about $340 billion today. It also initiated coverage of Chainlink’s LINK token with a forecast of $200 by the end of 2030, up from about $8 today.
The core argument is that tokenized assets cannot scale only through issuance. They need reliable external data, secure movement across blockchains, privacy tools and compliance systems before they can be used widely in DeFi and traditional finance workflows.
Why Chainlink Matters
Standard Chartered said Chainlink already provides secure on-chain connections for about 70% of DeFi markets globally and more than 80% on Ethereum, with more than $32 trillion in transaction value enabled to date.
The bank said Chainlink has expanded beyond oracles into interoperability, compliance and privacy, making it the only end-to-end platform currently positioned to support tokenized assets across both DeFi and TradFi.
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The report also points to growing institutional use. Companies and institutions using Chainlink services include Swift, DTCC, Euroclear, JPMorgan, Mastercard, UBS, Fidelity and WisdomTree.
LINK Forecast And Risks
Standard Chartered expects LINK to rise to $13 in 2026, $41 in 2027, $82 in 2028, $133 in 2029 and $200 in 2030. Key risks include slower institutional tokenization, delayed production workflows, competition from specialist providers and technical setbacks.
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