Glossary
LINK
Chainlink's protocol token — used by oracle node operators as stake / collateral and by service consumers to pay for data feeds, VRF, CCIP, and other Chainlink services.
LINK is the native ERC-677 token of the Chainlink network. Oracle node operators stake LINK as security for the data and computation they provide. Smart contracts and services that consume Chainlink feeds pay node operators in LINK.
The token launched via a 2017 ICO with a fixed maximum supply of 1 billion. Vesting of team and node-operator allocations has shaped distribution over years. LINK remains one of the most widely held cryptoassets and is the gas / staking unit for Chainlink Economic 2.0 and CCIP.