Ethereum vs. Chainlink: Which Will Benefit More From Tokenization?
Ethereum holds the lion's share of tokenized assets while Chainlink quietly connects every blockchain in the room, and the two cryptocurrencies are heading in opposite directions in 2026. Which one actually captures more value as Wall Street moves trillions onto…
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Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) and Chainlink (CRYPTO: LINK) both tap into the growing trend of tokenization—the shift of Treasuries, funds, and bank deposits onto blockchains. However, as we move through 2026, ETH has declined, while LINK has risen 7%. So, when considering Ethereum vs. Chainlink, which cryptocurrency is likely to capture more market share as this trend continues to develop?
Both Ethereum and Chainlink performed well recently, with ETH rising by 11% to reach $2,664 and LINK climbing by 12% to $12. What matters, though, is the broader picture, since both cryptocurrencies offer similar pitches for tokenization until you dig into the details.
Ethereum Holds the Tokenized Assets and Chainlink Moves Them
Ethereum serves as a settlement layer, acting as the shared ledger where tokenized assets, like bonds and funds, are recorded, and ownership is transferred. Currently, tokenized assets on public blockchains (excluding stablecoins) are valued at roughly $31 billion, with Ethereum holding more than half of that value, far surpassing any other blockchain.
On the other hand, Chainlink operates an oracle network, which brings external data—such as prices and interest rates—into blockchain applications. Its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) is crucial for transferring messages and assets between blockchains that cannot communicate directly.
As the demand for tokenization grows, Chainlink’s role expands, particularly as BlackRock’s tokenized money market fund, BUIDL, currently holds about $2.8 billion across eight blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon. Chainlink facilitates interactions between these ledgers, while Ethereum retains the largest volume of assets.
Swift Has Tested Chainlink With Banks Every Year Since 2023
Chainlink’s significant partnerships further underscore its potential. Since 2023, Swift, the network banks rely on for cross-border payments, has been testing connections with Chainlink and several major institutions, including Citi and BNP Paribas. In August 2023, they successfully moved tokenized assets between an Ethereum test network and other blockchains. Tom Zschach, Swift’s chief innovation officer, remarked that these tests demonstrated the compatibility of Swift’s network with various blockchain systems.
The collaboration has continued yearly, with Swift conducting tokenized fund trades with UBS Asset Management in 2024 and completing tokenized bond transactions with major banks in January 2026. In June 2026, more than 50 banks joined Project Pangea to facilitate euro and Korean won stablecoin swaps through Chainlink.
However, despite these promising developments, SWIFT and Chainlink have yet to publish a formal fee structure for their projects, meaning Chainlink hasn’t reaped immediate financial rewards from these tests.
ETH Burns Fees and LINK Bills for Services, So They Capture Value Differently
Ethereum’s transaction model differs from Chainlink’s. Every transaction on Ethereum incurs a fee paid in ETH, part of which is burned, reducing ETH supply during high-activity periods. Despite this mechanism, the overall ETH supply has increased by about 1% over the last year, mainly because much of the activity now occurs on layer-2 networks that pay only minimal fees to Ethereum.
Conversely, LINK holders see slower growth. Banks and applications compensate node operators—who run the oracle network—with LINK for data and cross-chain communication. Increased activity from financial institutions drives higher demand for LINK, but that demand comes through contracts and billing rather than immediate supply reductions.
Which Gains More From Tokenization, Ethereum or Chainlink?
Our assessment leans towards Chainlink as the stronger candidate for growth. Financial institutions and asset issuers are diversifying tokenized assets across multiple blockchains, and Chainlink’s services can generate revenue from each chain, including Ethereum. In contrast, Ethereum must compete with various other ledgers for the same deposits. This is reflected in the market trends, with LINK up 7% for 2026 while ETH has remained in the red.
For Chainlink, the key challenge will be turning Swift’s ongoing projects into formal, paying contracts and pushing past its recent intraday peak of around $14, about 12% above its current price. Meanwhile, Ethereum may need to break above its September 21 intraday mark of $2,807, about 5% higher than its recent trading position, to shift market sentiment. If ETH falls below its September 16 closing price of $2,417, about 9% lower, it could further weaken its position in this comparison.
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Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst and the editor of 24/7 Wall St.'s Crypto Desk, where he covers Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum, Solana and the altcoins investors search for most. His work focuses on price levels, spot ETF flows, on-chain data and the regulatory decisions that move crypto markets, written so a first-time buyer and a seasoned trader can both use it.
Sam has written about crypto professionally since 2019 and has published more than 2,000 articles. Before joining 24/7 Wall St., he wrote for crypto media outlets and Web3 companies and ghostwrote for crypto founders and token launches. His analysis is syndicated on Yahoo Finance, MSN and AOL and has been cited by other crypto news sites. He also founded MacLabs Marketing, a content and personal branding agency for crypto founders and executives.
When he isn't reading charts, Sam is usually at the gym or watching One Piece, a series he maintains has better tokenomics than most altcoins.
