Networks field guide

Chainlink.

Data bridges for smart contracts.

Chainlink is an oracle network: it helps smart contracts use data from outside their own blockchain, such as price feeds and event results.

What it isWhy it mattersWhat can go wrongWhat to do next

NetworkOracle network

Supply1 billion LINK max

Birthday / launch2017 — Chainlink white paper and LINK sale era

Know the backstory

2017 — Chainlink white paper and LINK sale era

Built by: Sergey Nazarov and Steve Ellis

Chainlink was created to solve the oracle problem: a smart contract cannot independently know whether an off-chain fact, price, or event is true.

Why it stands apart

Data bridges for smart contracts.

LINK is associated with an oracle network, not a standalone general-purpose blockchain in the same sense as Ethereum or Solana.

Bottom line: Chainlink has its own design, trade-offs, and risks. Learn the network before you use the asset.

Follow the money

What happens after you hit send.

A smart contract requests external data.
A Chainlink oracle network retrieves and aggregates data from defined sources.
The result is delivered on-chain for the contract to use.

Know the economics

Where new LINK comes from.

LINK has a stated maximum supply of 1 billion tokens.

Protect the downside

The mistake you cannot undo.

The blockchain can faithfully execute bad data or bad contract logic. Learn who provides a feed, how it is configured, and what happens when it fails.

Go beyond the summary

The subject in plain English.

Chainlink is a separate system with its own rules, people, and trade-offs. This page explains the basics in plain English so you can understand it before deciding whether to use it.

Start with the plain version

Chainlink is an oracle network: it helps smart contracts use data from outside their own blockchain, such as price feeds and event results.

Its birthday and backstory

2017 — Chainlink white paper and LINK sale era. Chainlink was created to solve the oracle problem: a smart contract cannot independently know whether an off-chain fact, price, or event is true.

Who is behind it?

Sergey Nazarov and Steve Ellis. Names can explain a project’s history, but they do not make an asset safe or guarantee its future.

What keeps the record

Chainlink uses Oracle network. Smart contracts cannot automatically trust normal websites. Oracle networks supply data, but users should still understand the data source and the contract's risks.

Supply, fees, and incentives

LINK has a stated maximum supply of 1 billion tokens.

The part to take seriously

The blockchain can faithfully execute bad data or bad contract logic. Learn who provides a feed, how it is configured, and what happens when it fails.

What people use it for

Where this matters.

Learn how the network records activity
Understand the difference between the asset, the network, and the company around it
Recognize the correct network before a transfer
Check whether a wallet or service actually supports this asset

Before you act

Verify before you sign.

Find the project through an official link, not an ad, reply, or direct message.
Confirm the exact name, ticker, network, and token or contract address.
Do not share a recovery phrase, private key, or remote access with anyone.
Use a small test transaction before moving an amount that matters.
Treat every purchase, yield offer, or app approval as a separate risk decision.

Common questions

Clear answers before money moves.

When did Chainlink begin? +

2017 — Chainlink white paper and LINK sale era

Who built Chainlink? +

Sergey Nazarov and Steve Ellis

What blockchain does it use? +

Chainlink uses Oracle network. LINK is associated with an oracle network, not a standalone general-purpose blockchain in the same sense as Ethereum or Solana.

What is the safest first step? +

Read the official documentation, verify the correct network, and make a tiny test before connecting a meaningful wallet or sending a meaningful amount.

Primary sources