ChainLink (LINK) Historical Price and Return Analysis: Should I buy LINK now?

Summary

This article provides a comprehensive review of LINK’s historical prices and market fluctuations since its inception, combining data from bull and bear market phases to evaluate the potential returns for investors purchasing 10 LINK tokens. It also addresses the key question, “Should I buy LINK now?” to help both beginners and long-term investors grasp timing and growth opportunities.

Beginning of Bull Market and Early Market Cycles: Historical Price Review (2017 to 2020)

LINK is an ERC20 standardized token on the Ethereum blockchain, used to pay Chainlink node operators for retrieving data from off-chain sources, formatting data into blockchain-readable formats, executing off-chain computations, and ensuring uptime. According to CoinMarketCap, LINK’s early trading price was approximately $0.1884.

Below are the price changes of LINK during the initial bull market phase:

2017

• Opening Price: $0.1884
• Closing Price: $0.5763
• Highest Price: $0.5763
• Lowest Price: $0.175
• Annual Return: 205.89%

2018

• Opening Price: $1.38
• Closing Price: $0.3883
• Highest Price: $1.38
• Lowest Price: $0.1781
• Annual Return: -71.79%

2019

• Opening Price: $0.445
• Closing Price: $1.83
• Highest Price: $3.4
• Lowest Price: $0.3858
• Annual Return: 310.54%

2020

• Opening Price: $2.24
• Closing Price: $13.64
• Highest Price: $18.76
• Lowest Price: $1.99
• Annual Return: 510.18%

An investor who bought 10 LINK tokens during the early bull market in 2017 and sold at the end of 2020 could have realized a potential return of 97.19 times.

Bear Market Adjustment and Mid-term Market Cycle: Profit and Risk Analysis (2021 to 2023)

During this period, LINK’s price experienced volatility, rising to a historical high in 2021, then falling to a low in 2022, followed by a rebound in 2023.

Below are the potential returns for an investor purchasing 10 LINK tokens in different years:

2021

• Opening Price: $16.21
• Closing Price: $21.86
• Highest Price: $52.27
• Lowest Price: $15.48
• Annual Return: 34.85%

2022

• Opening Price: $27.54
• Closing Price: $5.63
• Highest Price: $27.54
• Lowest Price: $5.63
• Annual Return: -79.56%

2023

• Opening Price: $5.96
• Closing Price: $14.94
• Highest Price: $16.37
• Lowest Price: $5.16
• Annual Return: 150.53%

The potential returns for purchasing 10 LINK tokens during this period are:

• 2021: -42.55 times
• 2022: -155.85 times
• 2023: 59.92 times

Recent Market Cycle: Should I buy LINK now? (2024 to 2026 so far)

In recent years, LINK has shown a pattern of volatility and correction. After a rebound in early 2024, it declined in 2025, and continues to face pressure in 2026. Market participants are continuously assessing the investment value at current levels.

2024

• Opening Price: $13.15
• Closing Price: $23.58
• Highest Price: $29.25
• Lowest Price: $10.0
• Annual Return: 79.28%

2025

• Opening Price: $19.84
• Closing Price: $13.43
• Highest Price: $25.82
• Lowest Price: $11.3
• Annual Return: -32.29%

2026 (so far)

• Opening Price: $13.21
• Closing Price: $11.96
• Highest Price: $13.31
• Lowest Price: $11.52
• Annual Return: -9.51%

The potential returns for an investor purchasing 10 LINK tokens during this period are:

• 2024: -11.96 times
• 2025: -78.8 times
• 2026 so far: -12.56 times

Conclusion: Bull Market, Bear Market, and Investment Timing Analysis

By analyzing LINK’s historical prices and potential returns, we observe that the asset has experienced clear cyclical fluctuations—from a strong growth phase from 2017 to 2020, to a correction period from 2021 to 2023, and a sustained pressure phase from 2024 to 2026. Long-term holders’ returns have declined from early decades of multiple tens to negative figures, reflecting a market re-pricing of the asset’s value. Currently, the price is at a historical low, but ongoing downward pressure indicates the market is still in a bottoming-out phase. Investors should carefully evaluate entry timing and risk tolerance.