The battle for leadership in the DeFi space is becoming increasingly clear as two major contenders trade very differently heading into 2026. Chainlink price and HYPE have both delivered strong performances over the past year, but recent price action suggests the balance may be shifting again.
HYPE price dominated much of 2025, briefly flipping LINK in market momentum as speculative interest surged across newer DeFi narratives. However, as market conditions tighten, it would be interesting to watch whether Hyperliquid sustains itself as the leader of the DeFi space or Chainlink regains its dominance.
Chainlink Holds Firm as the Market Tests Conviction
Chainlink has quietly delivered one of the cleaner defensive structures among large-cap DeFi tokens. Despite the broader downtrend, LINK bounced decisively from the $10 zone and printed a strong green candle, signaling sustained buyer interest at long-term trendline support. Since then, the bulls have been holding firmly above the support, hinting towards a bigger move to be on the horizon.
The recent downturn had dragged the LINK price below the rising parallel channel, but the bulls held the 200-day MA strongly, which is expected to revive a strong bullish momentum. The weekly RSI displays strength as it attempts a recovery before hitting the lower threshold. All these indicators signal a bullish move, but only the LINK price manages to break the support of the rising parallel channel. Once the token enters the pattern, a rise beyond $20 could be imminent.
HYPE Price Faces Its First Real Structural Test
HYPE’s rise in 2025 was undeniable. The token delivered a sharp expansion phase, outperforming many peers even as competition intensified following strong entries from emerging DeFi players like ASTER. That move firmly established HYPE as a serious large-cap contender. However, current price action shows rejection at the golden pocket resistance, with bulls still struggling to flip this zone into durable support. While the broader trend remains constructive, the inability to reclaim this level cleanly suggests hesitation rather than acceleration at this stage.
Unlike LINK, HYPE seems to have been stuck under a strong bearish influence. The token is constantly printing lower highs and lows, while the current price action suggests a drop to 0.236 FIB at $20 could be on the horizon. The RSI is unable to break the descending trend line, which is acting as a resistance; besides, the draining OBV substantiates the bearish claim. Therefore, Hyperliquid appears to be poised for a continued pullback, while a rebound can be expected at the local support at $20.
What the Charts Are Telling Traders
The contrast between the two setups is clear:
- LINK is defending a multi-year trendline and showing strength during market weakness.
- HYPE is consolidating after a strong run but still needs confirmation above key resistance.
This does not invalidate HYPE’s longer-term potential. Instead, it highlights a short-term rotation in relative strength, where capital favors assets showing stability over those still resolving resistance.
Conclusion: Which Looks Better Right Now?
Both LINK and HYPE are likely to remain relevant throughout 2026, given their large-cap status and deep integration within DeFi. However, based on current price action alone, Chainlink presents the cleaner setup. Holding long-term support while printing higher-timeframe strength gives LINK a tactical edge for traders looking for asymmetric positioning.
HYPE’s 2025 rally was a major win, but until resistance flips into support, LINK appears better positioned for the next leg—not because of hype, but because the charts are doing the talking.
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