Chainlink just made a move that’s flying a bit under the radar, but it matters a lot for where DeFi is headed next. As pointed out by Altcoin Buzz, the launch of 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams tackles one of the most frustrating problems in real-world asset markets: incomplete pricing data.
In simple terms, DeFi has wanted exposure to stocks for years, but the data pipes were never good enough. That problem just got a lot smaller.
What you'll learn 👉
Closing a Gap That’s Been There for Years
Traditional stock markets do not run the same way crypto does. Trading hours are limited, data access is fragmented, and most pricing feeds live behind centralized walls. DeFi operates nonstop and depends entirely on transparent, verifiable inputs. That mismatch created a huge blind spot, especially for tokenized stocks and equity-linked products.
With these new equity streams, Chainlink now delivers real-time, cryptographically signed pricing for U.S. equities during extended trading hours. That gives on-chain protocols a much clearer picture of what’s happening in the stock market, even outside the traditional 9–5 window.
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Why the $80 Trillion Figure Matters – And Real Products Are Already Using It
The U.S. equities market sits around $80 trillion in size, and that number alone explains why this upgrade matters. Access to accurate stock pricing isn’t only about creating new trading toys. It’s about risk management, margin systems, and liquidations working the way they should.
For any DeFi protocol touching real-world assets, pricing quality is everything. Chainlink signed data feeds bring a level of assurance that institutions expect before they interact with financial infrastructure. Without that trust layer, serious capital stays on the sidelines.
This isn’t a “someday” feature. Platforms like Lighter and Monaco are already integrating these streams to offer 24/7 equity perpetuals. That means users can trade stock exposure even when traditional markets are closed.
Those products only work if pricing is reliable at all times. Chainlink provides the foundation that makes that possible, handling the data layer so protocols can focus on execution and user experience.
Chainlink has officially solved the "pricing blind spot" for RWA markets with the launch of 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams.
— Altcoin Buzz (@Altcoinbuzzio) January 30, 2026
By delivering real-time, cryptographically signed data for the $80 trillion U.S. stock market, $LINK allows DeFi protocols to operate with full market… pic.twitter.com/FQCt7BbdER
What This Means for LINK and DeFi’s Direction
For LINK, this development reinforces its role as core infrastructure. The more asset classes that depend on Chainlink’s data, the harder it becomes to replace. This isn’t about short-term excitement; it’s about becoming embedded in how decentralized markets function.
On a broader level, this move shows how DeFi is expanding its reach. Instead of replacing traditional finance outright, it’s extending access and availability in ways legacy systems never offered.
Chainlink’s 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams won’t create instant hype candles, but they solve a real structural problem. And in crypto, the projects that quietly fix infrastructure gaps often end up shaping the next phase of the market.
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