Despite a broader crypto market decline, Chainlink (LINK) saw notable growth on Monday, defying market trends with its price remaining strong at $25.35 per token. This resilience is attributed to increased investment by large investors, known as whales, who have accumulated over 5.43 million LINK tokens, representing a significant increase of 1.15 million tokens recently. This trend signals robust investor confidence despite the bearish market. The reduction in LINK on centralized exchanges further underscores this shift, with balances now at around 269.56 million tokens, a notable decrease compared to previous levels. This move indicates a greater focus on long-term holdings and less reliance on short-term trading activity. Chainlink’s price surge is also fueled by the Strategic LINK Reserve initiative, which has accumulated $2.4 million in assets since launch, effectively contributing to deflationary pressure within the ecosystem, driving demand for the token.