Cryptocurrency markets are showing signs of a renewed rebound, with major altcoins including NEAR Protocol and Chainlink (LINK) among the tokens posting strong gains. On September 26, NEAR was trading around $4.97, up about 7% over 24 hours, while LINK was also near $13.76, gaining roughly 7% over the same period, according to CoinMarketCap data.
The recovery comes after a period of sharp volatility across digital assets. Bitcoin has remained under pressure, but several alternative cryptocurrencies have begun attracting buying interest, creating a divergence between weakness in the largest cryptocurrency and stronger moves in selected altcoins.
For NEAR and Chainlink, the latest rebound is particularly notable because both tokens had experienced significant swings during September. The move suggests that traders are once again willing to take positions in higher-risk digital assets, although the broader market remains highly volatile.
NEAR Protocol Surges as Buying Returns
NEAR Protocol has been one of the stronger performers during the latest rebound.
CoinMarketCap data showed NEAR at approximately $4.97, with a 24-hour gain of around 6.97% and trading volume of roughly $1.9 billion.
The move follows several large daily swings throughout September. Data from Gadgets 360 shows that NEAR gained 23.66% on September 18, followed by another 12.17% gain on September 20. It then moved sharply in both directions before another strong advance on September 24.
On September 24, NEAR’s price in Indian rupee terms closed at approximately ₹447.30, after reaching an intraday high of ₹452.69. That represented an 8.83% daily increase.
The pattern demonstrates how quickly liquidity can return to altcoins during periods of renewed risk appetite.
Chainlink Joins the Altcoin Rebound
Chainlink has also recorded a significant recovery.
LINK was trading around $13.76, up approximately 6.97% over 24 hours, with daily trading volume approaching $1 billion, according to CoinMarketCap’s latest market data.
The move follows a series of volatile sessions. Gadgets 360’s historical data shows LINK rising 7.58% on September 18, gaining another 3.05% on September 21, and then climbing 6.53% on September 24.
The latest rebound has pushed LINK back above the $12 level that had become an important area of attention for traders. Brave New Coin reported that Chainlink defended the $12 level during the September 24 pullback before recovering above $12.50.
That recovery has placed the token back in focus as traders look for signs that the recent downtrend is losing momentum.
Technical Breakout Adds Momentum to LINK
Part of Chainlink’s latest move appears to have been driven by technical factors rather than one single fundamental announcement.
CoinMarketCap reported that LINK had been trading inside a range for more than a month before moving above daily resistance. The move was accompanied by short liquidations, which can accelerate an upward move when traders betting on falling prices are forced to close their positions.
This is important because cryptocurrency rallies can sometimes become self-reinforcing in the short term.
When a token breaks through a widely watched resistance level, traders may increase buying activity. At the same time, leveraged short positions can be liquidated, adding additional buying pressure.
However, technical breakouts do not guarantee that a rally will continue. If buying volume falls or broader market sentiment deteriorates, prices can quickly return to previous trading ranges.
Chainlink’s Adoption Story Remains Important
Beyond short-term price movements, Chainlink continues to attract attention because of its role as a blockchain infrastructure and oracle network.
The network is designed to connect blockchain-based applications with external data and systems. This has made Chainlink particularly relevant to areas such as decentralized finance, tokenized assets and financial-market infrastructure.
A recent development involving Infosys has added to that narrative. Chainlink said on September 22 that Infosys would use the Chainlink stack as a standard component in its software for banks and payments.
Such developments do not automatically translate into higher demand for LINK, but they contribute to the broader discussion around institutional blockchain adoption and the potential role of Chainlink infrastructure.
NEAR’s Rally Comes With High Trading Activity
NEAR’s recent performance has also been accompanied by substantial trading activity.
CoinMarketCap showed roughly $1.9 billion in 24-hour trading volume around September 26, while Gadgets 360’s historical data recorded exceptionally high volume during several of NEAR’s strongest September sessions.
On September 18, for example, NEAR recorded a daily gain of 23.66%, accompanied by approximately ₹227.3 billion in reported trading volume in the Gadgets 360 data. The token then experienced another major move on September 20, rising more than 12%.
High volume during a price rebound can indicate that more market participants are actively trading the token, although it does not by itself establish whether the move will be sustained.
Broader Altcoin Market Shows Signs of Recovery
The moves in NEAR and LINK are occurring alongside gains in several other cryptocurrencies.
CoinMarketCap’s latest gainers data showed AERO up 22.20%, ENA up 19.97%, Canton up 15.99%, Quant up 15.87%, Sei up 15.07% and Sui up 12.24%. NEAR and LINK were both among the larger-cap tokens gaining around 7%.
This broader participation suggests that the latest move is not limited to one isolated cryptocurrency.
At the same time, Bitcoin has been weaker. Recent market coverage placed Bitcoin around $84,000 after an approximately 8% weekly decline, while several altcoins were moving higher.
That creates an unusual market structure in which some traders appear to be rotating toward selected altcoins despite weakness in the largest cryptocurrency.
Why Crypto Markets Are So Volatile Right Now
Cryptocurrency prices remain sensitive to several factors simultaneously, including global liquidity, interest-rate expectations, investor risk appetite, leverage and developments specific to individual blockchain projects.
The recent rebound therefore needs to be viewed against the backdrop of significant volatility rather than as evidence of a confirmed broad market reversal.
NEAR’s September price history illustrates this clearly. The token moved from approximately ₹229 on September 15 to ₹363.58 by September 18, before experiencing additional sharp swings in the following days.
LINK has shown a similar pattern, with its price moving between approximately ₹1,020 and ₹1,260 during several September sessions.
These large daily ranges highlight the risks associated with trading digital assets during periods of heightened volatility.
What Traders Are Watching Next
For Chainlink, the key focus is whether the recent move above the $12 area can develop into a more sustained recovery. Brave New Coin reported that LINK had moved back above $12.50 after defending the $12 level during the recent pullback.
For NEAR, traders will be watching whether the token can maintain its recent gains after several large upward and downward sessions.
Trading volume will remain another important indicator. A rally supported by sustained market participation can look different from a short-lived move driven primarily by leveraged positioning.
The wider cryptocurrency market will also remain crucial. If Bitcoin continues to weaken significantly, altcoin rallies could face additional pressure. Conversely, stabilization in Bitcoin and broader risk appetite could provide a more supportive environment for tokens such as NEAR and LINK.
NEAR and Chainlink Become Key Altcoins to Watch
The latest rebound has put NEAR Protocol and Chainlink back in the spotlight, with both tokens gaining roughly 7% over the latest 24-hour period and recording substantial trading activity.
NEAR’s rally follows a series of exceptionally volatile September sessions, while Chainlink’s move has been supported by a combination of technical momentum and continued attention around blockchain infrastructure adoption.
The recovery is taking place while Bitcoin remains under pressure, making the current market particularly interesting to watch. Whether this develops into a broader altcoin recovery or remains a short-term rebound will depend on market liquidity, Bitcoin’s direction, leverage and continued demand for individual blockchain projects.
For now, the latest price action shows that buyers have returned to several major altcoins, with NEAR and Chainlink among the tokens leading the rebound.
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