Chainlink is currently trading at a crucial demand zone after enduring heavy selling pressure throughout Q1 of this year. Like many altcoins, LINK has struggled to recover in the face of broader macroeconomic instability and a hostile market environment fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s unpredictable policy decisions. Tariffs, trade tensions, and volatile global sentiment have created significant headwinds for high-risk assets, and Chainlink has been no exception.

Despite the recent weakness, some analysts believe a turnaround may be near — but only if LINK can hold its current support levels. A strong defense here could lay the foundation for a meaningful recovery rally in the weeks ahead.

Top analyst Ali Martinez shared new insights on X, highlighting a potentially bullish setup forming on Chainlink’s chart. According to Martinez, LINK is currently consolidating within a triangle pattern, which often precedes major moves. He notes that this structure could be setting up for a significant price move, with a breakout potentially imminent.

As LINK coils tighter within this pattern, traders are watching closely. A confirmed breakout from this zone could spark a strong directional move — and possibly mark the beginning of Chainlink’s next major trend.

Chainlink Struggles Below Key Levels as Triangle Pattern Signals Imminent Move

Chainlink is currently trading below critical resistance levels after losing nearly 30% of its value since late February. The sharp drop has left bulls in a defensive position, struggling to hold prices steady and spark a meaningful recovery. The $13 mark now stands as a crucial support level — a zone that must hold to preserve market structure and investor confidence. A decisive defense of this area could provide the foundation needed for a recovery rally.

While selling pressure has dominated in recent weeks, bears have so far failed to break LINK below its current demand zone. This has led to cautious optimism among traders, who see a potential reversal if buyers can defend key levels and reclaim momentum. If LINK maintains support above $13 and gains strength, a push toward higher liquidity zones could quickly follow.

However, risks remain. US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable economic policies, especially on tariffs and trade, continue to shake financial markets and drive uncertainty. Crypto, as a high-risk asset class, remains particularly vulnerable to this kind of volatility.

Martinez’s technical analysis noted that Chainlink is consolidating within a triangle pattern — a structure that often precedes significant price movements. According to Martinez, this setup could result in a 35% breakout, with $16 identified as the level to watch closely for confirmation.

If bulls can reclaim that level, a powerful move higher may follow. For now, all eyes are on the $13 support and the triangle’s upper boundary as Chainlink coils tighter and prepares for its next major move. A breakout — in either direction — appears imminent.

Bulls Hold Support But Battle Key Resistance

Chainlink (LINK) is trading at $13.5 after several days of consistent selling pressure, struggling to gain momentum below the critical $16 mark. The current level now acts as a short-term support zone, and bulls must defend it to avoid further downside. A successful hold above this price could offer a foundation for recovery, but the path forward remains challenging.

To shift sentiment and reignite bullish momentum, LINK must reclaim the $17.20 level — an area that aligns closely with both the 200-day moving average (MA) and the 200-day exponential moving average (EMA). These indicators have historically marked key trend reversals, and a clean breakout above them would signal strength returning to the market.

If bulls manage to push LINK above the $18 mark, a strong rally could follow, possibly retesting higher resistance levels and restoring confidence in the broader trend. However, if LINK fails to reclaim these levels in the near term, it risks slipping into a consolidation phase or even experiencing a deeper correction.

A breakdown below $12.5 would likely trigger further losses and shift the short-term outlook more bearish. For now, LINK remains in a fragile state, and the next move will depend on the bulls’ ability to reclaim momentum.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView 

US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs against every country with a trade relationship with the US.

Trump said the US would enact varying tariff percentages against each country based on the tariffs they impose on American goods.

The news led to a significant spike in volatility across major markets, including crypto, which saw the announcement wipe out the gains recorded from a significant rally earlier in the day.

Bitcoin (BTC) initially climbed to $88,500 as Trump took the stage but quickly crashed back to the daily opening price of around $85,100 before sliding again after the speech.

Based on CryptoSlate data, BTC remains in a downtrend and was trading at $84,382 as of press time, down 0.99% over the past 24 hours.

Legacy risk markets, including equities, saw similar volatility, while gold, considered a safe-haven asset, climbed back to its all-time high near $3,100.

The wider crypto market saw similar movements, with the vast majority of digital assets wiping the day’s gains to trade in the red.

Ethereum (ETH) was down 1.66% for the day and trading at $1,880 as of press time after climbing to $1,957 earlier in the day.

Solana (SOL) was down 1.59% for the day and trading at $128.3 as of press time, while BNB was down 2.16% and trading at $597 over the same period.

XRP was trading at $2.09, down 2.55%, while Dogecoin (DOGE) fell 2.45% to $0.1688.

Investors have been cautious about exposure to risk assets for several weeks due to the lack of clarity around Trump’s tariff plans.

While the initial reaction to the news has been negative for Bitcoin and equities, the resulting clarity around the tariffs could alleviate the market uncertainty that has held investors at bay.

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