Polkadot vs Chainlink

General

Description

Polkadot Logo
Polkadot
 (DOT)

Polkadot is an interoperable blockchain network where developers can create their own blockchains (parachains) and leverage the shared security of the Relay Chain. The system enables native communication between different chains and offers flexible blockspace rental for projects of all sizes with Polkadot 2.0.

What is Polkadot?
Chainlink Logo
Chainlink
 (LINK)

Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network available across multiple blockchains. Smart contracts can securely access real-world data (such as prices, weather, or sports results) and communicate with other blockchains through Chainlink - without having to trust any central party.

What is Chainlink?

Purpose and goals

Polkadot Logo
Polkadot
 (DOT)
  • Network of blockchains
  • Interoperability
  • Shared security
  • Scalability
Chainlink Logo
Chainlink
 (LINK)
  • Real-world data integration
  • Solving the oracle problem
  • Cross-chain interoperability
  • Reliable infrastructure

Price and market data

Price chart

Polkadot
 (DOT)

$1.87

+9.64%
Chainlink
 (LINK)

$12.30

+0.60%
Market data
PolkadotChainlink
Market cap
$3.07B
$8.7B
Market share
0.10%
0.28%
Current price

$1.87

+$0.057+3.05%

$12.30

-$0.078-0.63%
DOT converterLINK converter
All-time high
$54.98
Nov 04, 2021-96.61%
$52.70
May 10, 2021-76.67%
Crypto all-time highs
Cycle low
$1.66
+13.19%Dec 26, 2025
$4.96
+148.75%Jun 10, 2023
Prediction for 2026
Powered by AI
$2.42
+30.11%
$15.13
+23.08%
DOT predictionLINK prediction
Price trend
Negative
(21/30 days)
Negative
(17/30 days)
Momentum
Neutral
NegativePositive
Neutral
Neutral
NegativePositive
Neutral
Relative Strength Index
Neutral
BuySell
Neutral (40.42)
Neutral
BuySell
Neutral (41.47)
News sentiment
Neutral
NegativePositive
Neutral (54/100)

Last 2 months

Positive
NegativePositive
Positive (97/100)

Last 30 days

DOT newsLINK news
Price performance
-71.98%
-39.10%
Price performance
-51.05%
-7.31%
Price performance
-12.44%
-3.12%
Price performance
+9.64%
+0.60%
Price performance
+3.05%
-0.63%
Price performance
+1.18%
+0.14%
Annual return
-1.11%
-1.71%
Annual return
-72.95%
-39.70%
Annual return
-19.92%
+35.52%
DOT returnsLINK returns
Total return
-39.05%
2020 – 2026
+5,310.27%
2017 – 2026
Average annual return
+47.72%
+131.50%
Transaction volume
$154.76M
24h
$290.12M
24h
Max supply
1B
Circulating supply
1.65B
708.1M
Inflation
7.79%
Year
10.97%
Year
Crypto inflation

On-chain data

Market data
PolkadotChainlink
Total Value Locked (TVL)
What is Total Value Locked?
Market cap/TVL (ratio)
Transactions (24h)
16,707
Active addresses (24h)
7,761

Our rating

Our rating
PolkadotChainlink
Our overall rating
Polkadot
Chainlink
How we evaluate cryptocurrencies

Our individual ratings

Risk
Polkadot: 4 of 10
Risk (Polkadot)
Chainlink: 5 of 10
Risk (Chainlink)
Polkadot Logo
Chainlink Logo
riskyless risky
Community
Polkadot: 6 of 10
Community (Polkadot)
Chainlink: 7 of 10
Community (Chainlink)
Polkadot Logo
Chainlink Logo
smalllarge
Hype & momentum
Polkadot: 5 of 10
Hype & momentum (Polkadot)
Chainlink: 5 of 10
Hype & momentum (Chainlink)
Polkadot Logo
Chainlink Logo
weakstrong
Active usage
Polkadot: 5 of 10
Active usage (Polkadot)
Chainlink: 7 of 10
Active usage (Chainlink)
Polkadot Logo
Chainlink Logo
lowhigh
Network effect
Polkadot: 3 of 10
Network effect (Polkadot)
Chainlink: 5 of 10
Network effect (Chainlink)
Polkadot Logo
Chainlink Logo
weakstrong
Decentralization
Polkadot: 5 of 10
Decentralization (Polkadot)
Chainlink: 6 of 10
Decentralization (Chainlink)
Polkadot Logo
Chainlink Logo
centralizeddecentralized

Our opinion

Polkadot Logo
Polkadot
 (DOT)
Polkadot takes a technically innovative approach to solving blockchain scalability problems. Instead of running all applications on a single main chain, specialized projects can be deployed on parachains that still benefit from the Relay Chain's security. This enables high-performance applications without compromising on security and stability. With the successful implementation of Polkadot 2.0 and Elastic Scaling in 2025, plus community approval of the JAM protocol, the project demonstrates concrete progress. Over 60 active parachains and the new Agile Coretime system make Polkadot more accessible to developers. However, Polkadot faces stiff competition from Ethereum Layer-2s and other multi-chain solutions. Long-term success hinges on whether the technically elegant design can attract more developers and projects. These recent upgrades leave us cautiously optimistic about Polkadot's future.
What is Polkadot?
Chainlink Logo
Chainlink
 (LINK)
Decentralized applications often require real-world data and communication between different blockchains. The 'oracle problem' and chain isolation were long-standing barriers to blockchain adoption. Chainlink has established itself as the market leader in solving both challenges, now securing over $18 trillion in transaction value. Leading DeFi platforms like Aave, Compound, and Synthetix rely on Chainlink's services. With CCIP for cross-chain interoperability and partnerships with traditional financial institutions like Swift, Chainlink is significantly expanding its addressable market. As the dominant infrastructure provider in this growing sector, we continue to see substantial opportunities for both Chainlink and the LINK token.
What is Chainlink?

Details

Info
PolkadotChainlink
Founder
Gavin Wood, Robert Habermeier, Peter Czaban
Sergey Nazarov, Steve Ellis, Ari Juels
Developer
Parity Technologies, Chainsafe Systems, Soramitsu
Chainlink Labs
Published
2017
2017
Open source
Yes
Yes
Sector
Smart Contracts
Oracles
Key feature
Interoperability
Blockchain Oracles
Blockchain
Polkadot Blockchain
Ethereum Blockchain
Staking
Yes
No
Consensus mechanism
Nominated Proof of Stake
Ethereum (ERC-20 Token)
Energy consumption
Low
Medium
Transactions per second
1,000 TPS
Institutional investors
  • 1Confirmation
  • Boost VC
  • Digital Currency Group
  • Blockchain Capital
  • Coin Fund
  • Arrington XRP Capital
  • etc.
  • 8Decimal
  • Anmi OECD
  • Consensus Capital
  • Framework Ventures
  • Outlier Ventures
  • Fundamental Labs
  • etc.
Community
1.58M followers
1.31M followers
Website
polkadot.network
chain.link
Whitepaper
Whitepaper
Whitepaper
Polkadot vs Chainlink

Polkadot or Chainlink

Market data comparison of DOT versus LINK

The current price of Polkadot is $1.87 and has increased by in the last 24 hours. Chainlink is currently trading at $12.30, with a drop of over the same period. Polkadot has a market cap of $3.07B and ranks 47th. Chainlink follows with a market cap of $8.7B, ranking 22nd — meaning it is valued higher.

We automatically update all market data every 15 minutes, so you always have the latest figures for your comparison.

Should I buy Polkadot or Chainlink?

You should be aware that investing in cryptocurrencies carries risks, and we are neither allowed nor intending to provide investment advice. Still, we'd like to offer some food for thought: consider the opportunities and risks associated with both Polkadot and Chainlink. What target markets and problems are these two projects aiming to address?

If you're still unsure whether to invest in Polkadot or Chainlink, you can take a look at some additional market data to help with your decision:

Currently, Polkadot is about below it's all-time high of $54.98 reached on Nov 04, 2021.
In comparison, Chainlink is down approximately from it's all-time high of $52.70 on May 10, 2021.
Polkadot currently has a 46.66% lower 24h transaction volume of $154.76M compared to Chainlink with $290.12M.
Over the past year, Polkadot achieved a total return of , while Chainlink returned . Keep in mind, however, that past performance rarely guarantees future results.

Additional criteria for comparing cryptocurrencies:

  • What problem does the project aim to solve, and is a decentralized network meaningful and necessary for it?
  • How actively is the network being used?
  • Does the project have a large and active community?
  • How strong is the development activity? (e.g., on GitHub)
  • How decentralized is the underlying blockchain and the project itself?

How we evaluate cryptocurrencies

These are just a few indicators you can use to better evaluate and compare cryptocurrencies like Polkadot and Chainlink. Cryptocurrencies and their underlying technologies are often difficult to compare — even for professionals. So don’t stress yourself out, and never let emotions or fear of missing out drive your investment decisions.

Where can I buy Polkadot or Chainlink?

Today, there are many reputable and secure exchanges that make it easy to invest in Polkadot and Chainlink. We're happy to help you choose the right one: simply use our exchange comparison tool to find the platform that best suits your needs. Both Polkadot and Chainlink are well-known and in high demand, which means they're available on most major exchanges.

Crypto exchanges comparison

Which crypto wallet is best for Polkadot and Chainlink?

If you want to store cryptocurrencies like Polkadot or Chainlink yourself, choosing the right wallet is essential. Consider your personal preferences when deciding: Is ease of use important to you? Do you prefer maximum security with a hardware wallet (USB device), or is a software wallet sufficient for your needs? Our crypto wallet comparison helps you find the best wallet for Polkadot, Chainlink, and many other cryptocurrencies.

Crypto wallets comparison

How does our comparison work?

Data & Interfaces

Our market data is automatically updated every 15 minutes. This means you can always use the latest data for your comparisons. We obtain the data through web interfaces (API) from CoinGecko, DefiLlama, CoinCodex and many more

Research & Deepdive

We regularly sift through a jungle of technical whitepapers, websites, social media and forums for you. In doing so, we filter out essential and relevant information in order to present it to you clearly and comprehensibly in our comparison

Analysis & Valuation

We research and use analysis tools for blockchains and their networks, to form a fact-based foundation for our valuation. Please note that this is not an investment recommendation, but merely our personal opinion.

Community & Feedback

We check our information every 1-2 months to ensure it is up to date and correct. With the help of our community, we can find outdated or incorrect data even faster. Of course, we also welcome your feedback or suggestions for improvement!

Our data on cryptocurrencies was last updated on 2026-01-01T15:20:24.546666+00:00. Sources: CoinGecko, defillama.com, coincodex.com.

The content on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold cryptocurrencies, nor as a guarantee of future price developments. You are responsible for independently verifying any information before using a listed service. Trading cryptocurrencies involves significant risk and can result in the total loss of your capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results. We do not accept any liability for the timeliness, accuracy, or completeness of the information provided, including content from external or third-party sources. All actions are taken at your own risk. Some links on this website are affiliate links. If you purchase a product or use a service through these links, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Our content, comparisons, and rankings remain editorially independent. This helps us provide free content and continue developing the platform. Thank you for your support.