SideBySideCrypto
Altcoins December 18, 2025

Best Exchange to Buy Chainlink (LINK) 2025

Chainlink powers the oracle infrastructure behind DeFi. Here's where to buy LINK with the best fees and features.

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Quick Verdict

Kraken is best for LINK—low 0.16% fees, deep liquidity, and LINK staking available. Coinbase is easiest for beginners with staking rewards. Binance.US has the lowest fees at 0.10%. LINK is widely available—every major US exchange supports it.

Exchange Comparison for LINK

Exchange Trading Fee LINK Pairs Staking Best For
Kraken 0.16-0.26% LINK/USD, EUR, BTC ✅ Yes Best overall
Coinbase 0.40-0.60% LINK/USD, USDT ✅ Yes Beginners
Binance.US 0.10% LINK/USD, USDT, BTC ✅ Yes Lowest fees
Gemini 0.20-0.40% LINK/USD ❌ No Security
Crypto.com 0.075-0.40% LINK/USD, USDT ✅ Yes Card users

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Kraken

Kraken offers the best combination of low fees, high liquidity, and LINK staking. Their LINK/USD pair has deep order books, meaning less slippage on larger orders. Staking rewards let you earn while you hold.

LINK withdrawal fee: 0.3 LINK (~$4.50) — reasonable compared to competitors.

✓ Low fees ✓ LINK staking ✓ Deep liquidity
Easiest

Coinbase

Coinbase makes buying LINK simple with instant purchases and an intuitive interface. Staking is available with one click. Higher fees than Kraken, but the convenience may be worth it for occasional buyers.

✓ Beginner friendly ✓ One-click staking ✗ Higher fees
Cheapest

Binance.US

At 0.10% flat, Binance.US is the cheapest place to trade LINK. Multiple trading pairs available. Not available in all states, but if you have access, the savings add up for active traders.

✓ 0.10% fees ✓ Multiple pairs ✗ State restrictions

LINK Staking Comparison

Platform LINK Staking APY Min Amount Lock Period
Kraken ~2-4% None Flexible
Coinbase ~2-3% None Flexible
Binance.US ~3-5% 1 LINK 30-90 days
Chainlink Staking v0.2 ~4-5% 1 LINK Unbonding period

Native Chainlink staking (v0.2) offers higher yields but has limited capacity and requires technical setup. Exchange staking is simpler but takes a cut of rewards.

Chainlink Quick Facts

Token Type

ERC-20 (Ethereum)

Use Case

Oracle network for smart contracts

Total Supply

1 billion LINK (fixed)

Network Support

Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, more

Why Chainlink Matters

Chainlink solves a critical problem: smart contracts can't access real-world data on their own. Chainlink's decentralized oracle network connects blockchains to external data—price feeds, weather, sports scores, anything.

Chainlink Powers:

  • DeFi price feeds: Aave, Compound, Synthetix rely on LINK oracles
  • Cross-chain bridges: CCIP enables secure cross-chain transactions
  • NFT randomness: VRF provides provably fair random numbers
  • Enterprise data: Real-world data for insurance, supply chain, more

Withdrawal Networks

LINK exists on multiple networks. Withdrawal fees vary:

Network Typical Fee Support
Ethereum (Native) 0.3-0.5 LINK All exchanges
Polygon ~0.1 LINK Most exchanges
Arbitrum ~0.1 LINK Some exchanges

Frequently Asked Questions

Is LINK a good investment? +
We can't give investment advice. Chainlink has strong fundamentals—it's critical infrastructure for DeFi with no real competitor. But crypto is volatile. Do your own research and only invest what you can afford to lose.
Can I stake LINK directly through Chainlink? +
Yes, Chainlink Staking v0.2 is live but has limited capacity. Check stake.chain.link for availability. Native staking typically offers higher yields than exchange staking but requires more technical setup.
What wallet should I use for LINK? +
Any Ethereum-compatible wallet works—MetaMask, Ledger, Trezor. LINK is an ERC-20 token, so it uses the same address as your ETH. Hardware wallets are recommended for large holdings.
What's the difference between LINK on Ethereum vs Polygon? +
It's the same LINK, just bridged to different networks. Polygon LINK has cheaper transaction fees. Make sure you withdraw to the network your destination wallet/app supports—sending to the wrong network can result in lost funds.

The Bottom Line

LINK is available everywhere, so your choice depends on priorities. Kraken offers the best overall package—low fees, staking, and deep liquidity. Coinbase is easiest for beginners. Binance.US wins on fees if you have access. All support LINK staking to earn while you hold.

Compare All Exchanges